Early development of comorbidity between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are among the most common childhood disorders and frequently co-occur. The present study sought to advance our understanding of how comorbidity between ADHD and ODD develops during the preschool years by testing a cross-lagged model that integrates two prominent models: the developmental precursor model and the correlated risk factors model. Participants were 199 children (107 boys) who took part in a longitudinal study of preschoolers with behavior problems. Parent reports of ADHD and ODD symptoms were collected annually from ages 3 to 6 and a family history interview was administered at age 3. In support of the developmental precursors model, ADHD symptoms predicted later argumentative/defiant symptoms. In support of the correlated risk factors model, family histories of ADHD and ODD/CD symptoms were correlated risk factors that uniquely predicted ADHD and anger/irritable symptoms in children. Results suggest that the correlated risk factors model may best explain the development of comorbidity between symptoms of ADHD and anger/irritability, whereas the developmental precursors model may better explain the development of comorbidity between symptoms of ADHD and argumentative/defiance.

Reciprocity Between Parental Psychopathology and Oppositional Symptoms From Preschool to Middle Childhood

“…Additionally, we defined the following comorbid diagnoses with ODD as covariates in the analysis: attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, CD, depression, separation anxiety, general anxiety, specific phobias, and social phobia. These diagnoses correspond to those that epidemiological studies have most strongly linked to the onset and course of ODD at early stages and during the childhood (Harvey, Breaux, & Lugo‐Candelas, ; Martín, Granero, & Ezpeleta, ; Stringaris & Goodman, ).…”

Preschool Predictors of ADHD Symptoms and Impairment During Childhood and Adolescence

“…Harvey and colleagues 27 examined development of comorbidity between ADHD and ODD from ages 3 to 6 years. ODD symptoms did not predict future hyperactivity/impulsivity or inattention when controlling for early ADHD.…”

A Methylome‐Wide Association Study of Trajectories of Oppositional Defiant Behaviors and Biological Overlap With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…In reminder, twin studies suggest that the phenotypic correlation between ODD and ADHD is substantially explained through shared genetic influence (Tuvblad et al., ) and phenotypic studies show that both ODD and headstrong associate with ADHD (Stringaris & Goodman, ). However, existing research has yet to identify specific biological pathways that might underlie the shared genetics of ODD and ADHD (Harvey et al., ). Furthermore, recent research suggests that epigenetic effects on the development of psychiatric disorder can be time specific, with DNA methylation at birth indexing early biological vulnerability (Cecil, Walton, et al., ).…”