Co-existing disorders in ADHD - Implications for diagnosis and intervention

Abstract

Background: It is only recently that "comorbidity" in ADHD has come to the forefront as one of the most important aspects of the disorder. It is agreed that, often, these problems are at least as important as ADHD in contributing to the longer term outcome in the individual child. Objective: To provide the reader with basic information about clinics and treatment of "comorbidity" in ADHD. Method: Review of the empirically based literature. Results: ADHD exists in a surprisingly high frequency together with a broad range of child neuropsychiatric disorders. This is accompanied with many still unresolved treatment problems. Conclusion: It would not be appropriate to develop ADHD-services where clinicians would only have expertise in ADHD as such. Anyone working with children, adolescents and adults with ADHD would need to have training in general neuropsychiatry. Further research in this field is urgently needed.