Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Psychiatric Comorbidities

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to obtain current information on the clinical features of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases, comorbid psychiatric disorders and psychiatric drug use. Methods: All patients between the ages of 6 and 18 years who were admitted to our outpatient clinic and diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were included in the study. The files of the patients were examined and their demographic characteristics, symptoms, psychiatric diagnoses and drug profiles were recorded. The pattern of the psychiatric disorders accompanied by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases and the differences according to age and gender were analyzed. The differences were determined in patients with psychiatric comorbidity compared to those without. Result: The mean age of the 777 patients included in the study was 11.1±2.94 and 76.6% were boys. 60.9% of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients had comorbid psychiatric disorders. The most common psychiatric comorbidities were specific learning disability (23.6%), oppositional defiant disorder (12.9%) and conduct disorder (12.1%). There was no difference between the genders in terms of the incidence of psychiatric comorbidities. The rate of psychiatric comorbidity was significantly higher in adolescents than in children. A psychotropic medication was used in 86.4% of the cases and psychotropic polypharmacy was present in 31.5%. The rate of polypharmacy was significantly higher in the group with psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusion: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is frequently accompanied by other psychiatric disorders and the psychiatric comorbidity leads to a more complicated clinical profile. Approximately one-third of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients have psychiatric polypharmacy and these patients should be carefully monitored. Primary care physicians who are frequently confronted with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases should be careful about psychiatric comorbidities. Keywords: Child psychiatry, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental disorders, Family practice