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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 6/2007

01-09-2007 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Co-morbidity of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with focus on personality traits and related disorders in a tertiary referral center

Authors: Christian P. Jacob, MD, Jasmin Romanos, MD, Astrid Dempfle, MSc, Monika Heine, MD, Christine Windemuth-Kieselbach, PhD, Anja Kruse, PhD, Andreas Reif, MD, Susanne Walitza, MD, Marcel Romanos, MD, Alexander Strobel, PhD, Burkhard Brocke, PhD, Helmut Schäfer, PhD, Armin Schmidtke, PhD, Jobst Böning, MD, Klaus-Peter Lesch, MD

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 6/2007

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Abstract

Objective

The prevalence and consequences of co-morbid axis-I and axis-II disorders as well as personality traits were examined in a large cohort of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AADHD) at a tertiary referral center.

Methods

In- and outpatients referred for diagnostic assessment of AADHD were screened. 372 affected probands were examined by means of the Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV axis-I/II disorders, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ).

Results

Lifetime co-morbidity with mood disorders was 57.3%, with anxiety disorders 27.2%, and with substance use disorders 45.0%. The histrionic personality disorder (35.2%) was the most frequent personality disorder. AADHD patients exhibited significantly altered scores on most of the NEO-PI-R and TPQ personality dimensions. The extent of substance abuse and dependence, as well as the presence of antisocial personality disorder alone or the cumulative number of other specific personality disorders was associated with lower psychosocial status (p < .0001).

Discussion

In a cohort of patients with AADHD referred to a single tertiary center co-morbidity with axis-I/II disorders was remarkably prevalent. In AADHD co-morbid mood, anxiety, and personality disorders as well as substance abuse/dependence is likely to be predictive of poor outcome.
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Metadata
Title
Co-morbidity of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with focus on personality traits and related disorders in a tertiary referral center
Authors
Christian P. Jacob, MD
Jasmin Romanos, MD
Astrid Dempfle, MSc
Monika Heine, MD
Christine Windemuth-Kieselbach, PhD
Anja Kruse, PhD
Andreas Reif, MD
Susanne Walitza, MD
Marcel Romanos, MD
Alexander Strobel, PhD
Burkhard Brocke, PhD
Helmut Schäfer, PhD
Armin Schmidtke, PhD
Jobst Böning, MD
Klaus-Peter Lesch, MD
Publication date
01-09-2007
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 6/2007
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-007-0722-6

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