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ADHD and comorbid disorders in relation to family environment and symptom severity

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Abstract

Background

To examine the comorbidity of ADHD in association with family environment and the severity of ADHD.

Method

A screening for ADHD symptoms was conducted among adolescents in the Northern Finland 1986 Birth Cohort (N = 6622). A sample of those adolescents (n = 457), aged 16–18 years, with and without ADHD symptoms was assessed with a diagnostic interview (Kiddie-SADS-PL) and ADHD and comorbid disorders were studied in association with the family characteristics and the number of ADHD symptoms.

Results

Adolescents with ADHD had more commonly conduct disorder (P < 0.001), oppositional defiant disorder (P < 0.001), substance abuse (P < 0.001) and mild depression (P < 0.001) than adolescents without ADHD. Adolescents with ADHD and comorbid disorders had more ADHD symptoms (P < 0.001) than those with ADHD alone. Compared to adolescents with ADHD alone those with ADHD and comorbidity lived significantly more commonly in non-intact families, in low-income families, with mothers who were dissatisfied with life and with parents who showed little interest in their adolescents’ activities.

Conclusions

Adolescents who develop externalizing disorders comorbid to ADHD seem to suffer from a severe form of ADHD and live in family environments that may not provide sufficient support for optimal development of an adolescent with ADHD.

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Acknowledgements

The Graduate School of Circumpolar Wellbeing, Health and Adaptation is acknowledged for their support. This study was also supported by grants from The Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Finland, The Alma and K.A. Snellman Foundation, Finland, The Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Finland and the National Institute of Health, NIH subaward no 2000GDF692 and grants to doctors Smalley and McGough.

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Correspondence to Tuula Hurtig.

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Hurtig, T., Ebeling, H., Taanila, A. et al. ADHD and comorbid disorders in relation to family environment and symptom severity. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 16, 362–369 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0607-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0607-2

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