Assessment of disruptive behavior disorders in anxiety

Abstract

The co-occurrence of anxiety disorders (ADs) and disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) is substantial and poses signi ficant challenges in the psychological assessment process. DBDs include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional de fiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD). Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that that the overall rate of ADHD in youth with ADs is approximately 15-30% (Biederman, Newcom, & Sprich, 1991; Jensen, Martin, & Cantwell, 1997; Tannock, 2000), whereas the rate of CD/ODD in youth with ADs is around 10% (Angold, Costello, & Erkanli, 1999; Kendall, Brady, & Verduin, 2001). Youth with comorbid AD and DBD may display increased levels of symptomatology and impairment, higher levels of psychosocial adversity, and ongoing adjustment problems (Maser & Cloninger, 1990). These children may also be at greater risk of developing more severe psychopathology than children with either diagnosis alone or may show differential response to treatment (Kendall et al., 2001; Souza, Pinheiro, & Mattos, 2005).