Family Functioning and Psychosocial Characteristics in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder

SUMMARY Objective: To compare the parental sociodemographic characteristics, prenatal and postnatal developmental variables, IQ and behavioral disturbances as well as family functioning and current psychiatric disorders in the parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the parents of children with ADHD and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD). Method: The sample consists of 92 children in the 6–11 age range, diagnosed with ADHD and ADHD with comorbid ODD/CD using DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 4–18 and the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and were interviewed for current psychiatric treatment and alcohol consumption. Results: 69.6% of the sample was diagnosed with ADHD and 30.4% with ADHD + ODD/CD. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to age, intelligence, characteristics of the neonatal period, age of walking and age of speech. Children with ADHD and comorbid ODD/CD had high CBCL subscale scores except for the social withdrawal and sexual problems subscales. Maternal depression and paternal drinking problems were high in the ADHD+ODD/CD group. The families of children with ADHD+ODD/CD also scored high at the level of ‘unhealthy functioning’ in the Roles and Behaviour Control subscales of the FAD. Conclusion: The treatment of children diagnosed with ADHD with comorbid ODD / CD should include parental treatment and intervention addressing parental skills.