Attention Deficit, Conduct, Oppositional, and Anxiety Disorders in Children: I. A Review of Research on Differentiating Characteristics

Studies comparing Attention Deficit. Anxiety, and Conduct Disorders are reviewed. Most studies only compare one diagnostic group with normal subjects, and there are remarkable similarities to observed abnormalities across diagnostic groups. The few studies that have compared Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity (ADDH) with Conduct Disorder with or without Anxiety Disorder suggest that ADDH may be a cognitive disorder, possibly of neurodevelopmental origin; Conduct Disorder one of social relationships of psychosocial origin; and Anxiety Disorder less predominantly male, associated with parental anxiety, and less severe in every way than the other two. Coexistence of Attention Deficit and Conduct Disorders is probably common and increases the degree of disability.