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[Attention deficit disorder and anxiety disorders: a co-occurrence study]
G George1, M P Bouvard, M Dugas
1Service de Psychopathologie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris.
Annales De Pediatrie
|October 1, 1993
Summary
Over 40% of children with attention deficit disorder-hyperactivity (ADHD) also exhibit anxiety disorders, including hyperanxiety and separation anxiety. This French study confirms earlier findings and identifies anxiety symptoms differentiating affected children.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Epidemiological studies increasingly report co-occurring disorders in children.
- Previous research, primarily from Anglo-Saxon countries, suggests a link between attention deficit disorder-hyperactivity (ADHD) and anxiety disorders.
- This study represents the first French investigation into this comorbidity.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence and types of anxiety disorders in French children diagnosed with ADHD.
- To compare findings with previous international research.
- To identify specific anxiety symptoms that differentiate children with ADHD who also have anxiety disorders.
Summary:
- A study of 50 French children with ADHD found that over 40% met DSM-III-R criteria for at least one anxiety disorder.
- Hyperanxiety and separation anxiety were the most frequently diagnosed anxiety disorders.
- More than 40% of the children with anxiety had multiple anxiety disorders.
- The results align with prior Anglo-Saxon reports, validating the comorbidity.
- Distinct anxiety symptoms were identified that distinguish children with ADHD and comorbid anxiety from those with ADHD alone.
Impact:
- Provides crucial epidemiological data on ADHD and anxiety comorbidity in a French pediatric population.
- Highlights the need for comprehensive screening and integrated treatment approaches for children with ADHD.
- Contributes to a better understanding of the clinical presentation and diagnostic challenges of comorbid conditions in child psychiatry.