Parent and Child Characteristics Associated with Comorbidity Differences in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a commonly diagnosed disorder that is associated with many negative outcomes. For many children, the disorder is comorbid with externalizing and/or internalizing problems. Understanding the correlates of comorbid problems in children with ADHD could be important for better treatment and/or prevention strategies. The purposes of this study were (a) to determine what parent-related and child-related characteristics are associated with externalizing or internalizing problems in children with ADHD, and (b) to determine if there are differences in these characteristics between a group of children with ADHD and externalizing problems, and a group of children with ADHD and externalizing and internalizing problems. Results indicated that parent anxiety, parent aggression, and child hostility were associated with internalizing problems. Child aggression was associated with externalizing problems. Results also indicated that children with ADHD and externalizing and internalizing problems had significantly more hostility than children with ADHD and externalizing problems only