CONTRIBUTION OF ADHD SYMPTOMS TO SUBSTANCE PROBLEMS AND DELINQUENCY IN CONDUCT-DISORDERED ADOLESCENTS

We examined adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) and substance probl ems to determine if those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorde r (ADHD) symptomatology had more severe delinquency and substance invo lvement. ADHD symptomatology was assessed in two ways: (1) by self-rep orts using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) and ( 2) by use of DISC plus reports of others (parents, program staff and p rogram teacher). We divided boys into three ADHD groups based on DISC: those who met criteria those who reported at least eight current symp toms and those who reported fewer than eight symptoms. We also divided the same boys into two groups: those with reports of ADHD by two or m ore sources and those without this multisource ADHD. Examining these d efinitions of ADHD revealed that boys with either self- or multisource ADHD had more CD symptoms, earlier age of CD onset, more substance de pendence diagnoses and more comorbid depression and anxiety.