Medical Comorbidity of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in US Adolescents

Nicole D. Jameson, Brooke K. Sheppard, Tarannum M. Lateef, Jennifer L. Vande Voort, Jian Ping He, Kathleen Ries Merikangas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding patterns of medical comorbidity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may lead to better treatment of affected individuals as well as aid in etiologic study of disease. This article provides the first systematic evaluation on the medical comorbidity of ADHD in a nationally representative sample (National Comorbidity Replication Survey-Adolescent Supplement; N = 6483) using formal diagnostic criteria. Survey-weighted odds ratios adjusted for demographics, additional medical, and mental disorders were calculated for associations between ADHD and medical conditions. Models adjusted for demographics revealed significantly increased odds of allergy, asthma, enuresis, headache/migraine, and serious stomach or bowel problems. After adjusting for comorbidity, across the medical conditions, enuresis and serious stomach problems were the strongest correlates of ADHD. These findings confirm the pervasive medical comorbidity of ADHD reported in previous clinical and community-based studies. The intriguing salience of enuresis and serious stomach or bowel conditions may also provide an important clue to multisystem involvement in ADHD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1282-1289
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of child neurology
Volume31
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition
  • National Comorbidity Replication Survey-Adolescent Supplement
  • comorbidity
  • enuresis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Clinical Neurology

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