PREVALENCE OF ADHD AND COMORBID DISORDERS AMONG ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL-CHILDREN SCREENED FOR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

In the context of a school-based prevention of conduct disorder progra m, 7,231 first- through fourth-grade children were screened for cross- setting disruptive behavior. Frequencies of DSM-III-R psychiatric diso rders and patterns of comorbidity were assessed We also examined the a ssociation of psychiatric diagnosis with child and parent characterist ics to determine differential risk based on diagnostic subgroups. Atte ntion deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional-defiant d isorder (ODD) were the most frequent diagnoses. Mood and anxiety disor ders were infrequent as single diagnoses. Patterns of comorbidity demo nstrated that both externalizing and internalizing disorders commonly cooccurred with ADHD. More severe degrees of psychopathology and psych osocial risk accrued to the subgroup of youths with ADHD plus a comorb id externalizing disorder.