TY - JOUR
T1 - Comorbidity of obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in referred children and adolescents
AU - Masi, Gabriele
AU - Millepiedi, Stefania
AU - Mucci, Maria
AU - Bertini, Nicoletta
AU - Pfanner, Chiara
AU - Arcangeli, Francesca
PY - 2006/1
Y1 - 2006/1
N2 - Objective: The aim of this study was to explore whether comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the clinical expression and outcome of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a clinical sample. Method: A consecutive series of 94 children and adolescents (mean age, 13.6 ± 2.8 years) with current diagnosis of OCD were included in the study. Twenty-four (25.5%) patients were diagnosed as having a comorbid ADHD. Subjects with OCD plus ADHD were compared with subjects with OCD but without ADHD. Results: Comorbid ADHD with OCD was significantly associated with a higher rate of males, an earlier onset of OCD, a greater psychosocial impairment, and a heavier comorbidity, namely, with bipolar disorder, tic disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder. Phenomenology of obsessions and compulsions and outcome were not affected by ADHD comorbidity. Conclusions: A screening for ADHD should be performed in patients with OCD, as these patients and their parents are frequently not aware that the impairment may be partly due to a comorbid ADHD.
AB - Objective: The aim of this study was to explore whether comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the clinical expression and outcome of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a clinical sample. Method: A consecutive series of 94 children and adolescents (mean age, 13.6 ± 2.8 years) with current diagnosis of OCD were included in the study. Twenty-four (25.5%) patients were diagnosed as having a comorbid ADHD. Subjects with OCD plus ADHD were compared with subjects with OCD but without ADHD. Results: Comorbid ADHD with OCD was significantly associated with a higher rate of males, an earlier onset of OCD, a greater psychosocial impairment, and a heavier comorbidity, namely, with bipolar disorder, tic disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder. Phenomenology of obsessions and compulsions and outcome were not affected by ADHD comorbidity. Conclusions: A screening for ADHD should be performed in patients with OCD, as these patients and their parents are frequently not aware that the impairment may be partly due to a comorbid ADHD.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.04.008
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.04.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 16324901
AN - SCOPUS:28444444533
VL - 47
SP - 42
EP - 47
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
SN - 0010-440X
IS - 1
ER -