Diagnostic comorbidity in hospitalized adolescents with conduct disorder

We compared the diagnostic comorbidity of DSM-III-R axis I and axis II disorders in a sample of hospitalized adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) and a comparison group of hospitalized adolescents without conduct disorder (non-CD). Of 138 consecutively evaluated adolescents, 76 patients met criteria for CD and 62 did not. On axis I, CD was significantly comorbid with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUDs). None of the personality disorders assessed showed differential association with CD. The comorbid relationships found within this sample suggest a strong association between CD, ADHD, and SUD in hospitalized teenagers. This finding underscores the clinical importance of conducting a thorough developmental assessment and, when indicated, of treating ADHD and SUD in conduct-disordered adolescents.