Axis I Psychiatric Comorbidity in Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ALICIA LISCHINSKY; TERESA TORRALVA; FERNANDO TORRENTE; FACUNDO MANES

Buenos Aires

Encuentro; Join Mid-Year Meeting; 2008

The International Neuropsychological Society, Sociedad de Neuropsicología de Argentina

Objective: to determine the AXIS I psychiatric co-morbidity prevalence in adult ADHD patients according to DSM IV TR. Participants and methods: 98 adults patients consulted in a memory and behavioral neurology clinic and were diagnosed as ADD (n=35) or ADHD (n=63). All patients were evaluated with the MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) semi structured interview for DSM IV. Results: 57 patients (58.16%) presented at least one Axis I disorder. This percentage was higher in the ADHD group (n=43; 68%) than in the ADD group (n=15, 40%). Mood disorder was similarly frequent in both groups (ADHD: 39.6%; ADD 31%); followed by anxiety disorders (ADHD 14.2%; ADD 5.7%), and substance abuse (ADHD 14.2%; ADD 2.8%). Conclusions: Axis I Psychiatric co-morbidities in adult ADHD patients are very common. The frequency is substantially higher in ADHD (hyperactive impulse combined type) patients. We found that moood disorders were predominant in both groups, in contrast with substance abuse and anxiety disorders, both of which were more frequent in the ADHD group. These results are discussed in the context of advances in the neurobiological bases of these disorders.