Symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder and anger in children with ADHD

Abstract

With the research reported on here we sought to determine whether children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) displayed more symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD) and anger, which are categorised as externalising disorders, when contrasted to the control group and, also, whether gender and age impacted these ADHD comorbidities. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents before the age of 12 years according to which an individual displays a recurrent pattern of extreme inattentiveness, overactivity, and impulsiveness that inhibits performance, and is not age-appropriate. ODD is defined as a psychological syndrome characterised by disruptive behaviour, a pattern of anger and irritability, confrontational, and spiteful behaviour. CD is a psychological and behavioural syndrome characterised by difficulties with following rules, recurrent patterns of hostility, destruction, and dishonesty. Anger is a frequent reaction (contrasted to ordinary irritable mood), intense and long-lasting defensive or retaliatory response to perceived provocation or threat, which interferes with normal functioning. Both teacher and parent ratings on the Disruptive Behavior Disorders Scale, and self-report on the Anger Inventory of the Beck Youth Inventories were employed in this investigation. The sample (n = 216) consisted of 216 school children aged 6 to 15 years that were divided into an ADHD group and a matched control group without ADHD (50 boys and 58 girls in each group). The results indicate that children with ADHD displayed notably elevated symptoms of ODD, CD and anger. The externalising disorders are more pronounced in boys with ADHD than in girls. Age had no effect on the results. We recommend that externalising comorbidities should be the target of early interventions. Our findings contribute to the debate about how best to conceptualise ADHD regarding related behavioural and emotional disturbances, and the treatment thereof. Since these symptoms occur during childhood and progress to adolescence, early identification and management may improve the livelihood of those affected.