Psychiatric comorbidity in attention deficit disorder: impact on the interpretation of Child Behavior Checklist results

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1992 May;31(3):449-54. doi: 10.1097/00004583-199205000-00010.

Abstract

Studies have investigated associations between the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and clinical diagnoses without assessing the impact of comorbidity on these results. This study evaluates associations between parental reports from the CBCL and a structured diagnostic interview in children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) stratified by the presence (ADDH+) or absence (ADDH-) of psychiatric comorbidity. Interview-defined ADDH children scored significantly worse on all scales of the CBCL compared with scores from interview-defined non-ill comparisons. However, these findings were accounted for by the subgroup of children with ADDH+. The results indicate a good correspondence between CBCL-based ratings and interview-defined diagnoses. These findings also suggest that the CBCL may be a good screening instrument, not only for ADDH but also for comorbid psychiatric disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychometrics
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology