Psychiatric and psychological morbidity as a function of adaptive disability in preschool children with aggressive and hyperactive-impulsive-inattentive behavior

Children with high levels of aggressive-hyperactive-impulsive-inattentive b ehavior (AHII; n = 154) were subdivided into those with (n = 38) and withou t (n = 116) adaptive disability (+AD/-AD) defined as a discrepancy between expected versus actual adaptive functioning. They were compared to each oth er and a control group of 47 normal children. Both AHII groups were more li kely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder than control children; more symptoms of general psychopathology; greater social skills deficits; more parental problems; and lower levels of academic achievement skills. Compared to AHII - AD children, AHII + AD children had (1) more conduct disorder; (2) great er inattention and aggression symptoms; (3) more social problems, less acad emic competence, and poorer self-control at school; (4) more severe and per vasive behavior problems across multiple home and school settings; and (5) parents with poorer child management practices. Thus, adaptive disability h as utility as a marker for more severe and pervasive impairments in AHII ch ildren.