Anxiety in young people with ADHD: clinical and self-report outcomes.

OBJECTIVE (a) To determine the prevalence of comorbid anxiety disorder in ADHD, defined by diagnostic criteria and (b) to compare anxiety as reported by parents and participants with clinician assessment. METHOD Children with ADHD were assessed for comorbid anxiety disorder using the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule for Children. Parent report (Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Long version) and self-report (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Brain Resource Inventory for Screening Cases-Child version) scales were used to assess anxiety. The ADHD-Rating Scale IV was used to measure ADHD symptoms. RESULTS Of 134 participants (11.0 ± 2.6 years), 31.3% had comorbid anxiety disorder. Comorbid anxiety disorder was associated with greater severity of ADHD. Anxiety symptoms from parent reports (p < .05) but not from child/self-report (p > .05) correlated with clinician assessment. CONCLUSION Assessment for comorbid anxiety disorder and inclusion of parent rating in this assessment are important components of ADHD treatment in children and adolescents.