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Stability and Change of ODD, CD and ADHD Diagnosis in Referred Preschool Children

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Abstract

Longitudinal studies have shown that preschool children’s diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are likely to persist into school age. However, limited attention has been paid to instability of diagnosis. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate both stability and change of ODD, CD and ADHD diagnosis in children aged 3.5–5.5 years. For diagnosing these disorders, a semi-structured diagnostic parent interview, i.e., the Kiddie-Disruptive Behavior Disorder Schedule (K-DBDS), was used at the first assessment and at follow-up assessments (9 and 18 months). Five diagnostic stability groups (chronic, partial remission, full remission, new onset, no diagnosis) were compared with regard to impairment and number of symptoms. Participants were referred preschool children with externalizing behavioral problems (N = 193; 83 % male) and typically developing (TD) children (N = 58; 71 % male). Follow-up assessments allowed to distinguish children belonging to the chronic group of ODD, CD or ADHD from those belonging to one of the remission groups. In addition, there was a substantial number of children with a new onset diagnosis. In conclusion, as a complement to studies showing stability of ODD, CD and ADHD diagnosis into school age, present findings point to changes of diagnosis in the preschool and early school period. Diagnostic reassessments therefore are needed in this age group.

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Notes

  1. Results of percentages as described in Fig. 1, and the logistic regression analyses, were similar for the boys only sample and the boys and girls sample. Results of general linear model analyses (mixed repeated measures ANOVA) with post-hoc comparisons using Bonferroni correction and ANOVA’s were similar for the boys only sample and the sample with boys and girls with regard to impairment and total symptom score.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the parents and children who participated in this study.

Conflict of Interest

Ms. Bunte, Schoemaker, and Dr. Hessen, van der Heijden, and Matthys report no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Tessa L. Bunte, Kim Schoemaker & Walter Matthys

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Kim Schoemaker & Walter Matthys

  3. Department of Methodology and Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    David J. Hessen & Peter G. M. van der Heijden

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Tessa L. Bunte

Authors
  1. Tessa L. Bunte
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  2. Kim Schoemaker
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  3. David J. Hessen
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  4. Peter G. M. van der Heijden
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  5. Walter Matthys
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Correspondence to Tessa L. Bunte.

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Bunte, T.L., Schoemaker, K., Hessen, D.J. et al. Stability and Change of ODD, CD and ADHD Diagnosis in Referred Preschool Children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 42, 1213–1224 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9869-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9869-6

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