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Published on: December 7, 2018
Characteristics of Children With ADHD and Comorbid Anxiety
Matthew A Jarrett1, Jennifer C Wolff2, Thompson E Davis3
1University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA majarrett@ua.edu.
Objective:
The following comorbid subgroups of ADHD have been proposed: ADHD Only, ADHD + anxiety disorders (ANX), ADHD + oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD), and ADHD + ODD/CD + ANX. The current study examined a subset of these groups.
Method:
A total of 134 children and adolescents (M age = 9.92; range = 6-17) from a clinic-referred sample (n = 407) were grouped based on a semistructured diagnostic interview: ADHD only (n = 41), ADHD + ANX (n = 31), and ANX Only (n = 62).
Results:
Findings supported greater parent-reported anxiety symptoms in anxiety groups, and greater parent- and teacher-reported attention problems in ADHD groups. ADHD groups performed worse on a continuous performance test, whereas ADHD + ANX performed worse on working memory than ADHD Only. ADHD + ANX reported more physical anxiety symptoms than ADHD Only.
Conclusion:
Comorbid anxiety should be considered in ADHD assessment and treatment.
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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
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Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
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These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
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