Characteristics of internalizing and externalizing disorders in medication-naïve, clinically referred children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type and dysthymic disorder

Abstract

Objective: Internalizing and externalizing disorders are frequently comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, combined type (ADHD-CT) and dysthymic disorder (DD) in referred primary school-age children, yet there has been relatively little systematic research of the nature of these comorbid disorders. We describe the characteristics of parent- and child-reported internalizing and externalizing disorders in primary school-age children with ADHD-CT and DD. Method: A cross-sectional study of 45 clinically referred medication naïve children with ADHD-CT and DD, examining parent and child reports of internalizing and externalizing disorders, defined categorically and dimensionally. ..