[Psychopathology associated to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school age children].

INTRODUCTION: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) represents a frequent and highly comorbid disorder in children and adolescents. Comorbidity differs according to ADHD subtype and gender and has been reported to have a direct effect on the severity of ADHD.

METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was designed to determine the patterns of ADHD comorbidity in 102 children, aged 6 to 12 years, who attend the outpatient services of a child psychiatric hospital in Mexico City. The evaluation was performed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

RESULTS: The sample had about five comorbid disorders. The hyperactive-impulsive subtype had more severe externalizing symptoms, while the combined subtype had a higher severity of anxious depressive symptoms, delinquent behavior and internalized symptoms. Somatic complaints were more frequent in boys. A linear regression analysis showed that the severity of attention problems was influenced by the severity of aggressive behavior.

CONCLUSIONS: School age children who came to psychiatric attention services with ADHD are highly comorbid. The comorbidity increases the severity of attention problems, particularly in patients with the hyperactive-impulsive or combined subtypes.