Purpose: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood illness, which frequently presents with various comorbid emotional, social, and behavioral problems. Yet, children with epilepsy also experience significant behavioral problems. In this study, we compared behavioral problems of 124 children and adolescents with newly diagnosed ADHD and 40 youths with epilepsy, aged 6~17 years.

Methods: Among 1,576 urban community children and adolescents, the ADHD rating scale, the Comprehensive Attention Test, and a psychiatric interview were used to diagnose ADHD. In addition, we used the mother’s rating on the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) to assess the presence of behavioral problems.

Results: Compared to the epilepsy group, the ADHD group had lower IQ scores (100.29±13.47 vs. 108.61±15.04, p=0.007). In addition, the ADHD group had higher total K-CBCL scores (66.44±10.32 vs. 50.68±8.97, p<0.001) as well as higher scores on all eight subscales of the K-CBCL than the epilepsy group. Sixty-five participants (52.4%) in the ADHD group showed significant behavioral problems (t score ≥64) compared to 7.5% of epilepsy group. After controlling for IQ, using an analysis of covariance, the ADHD group showed significantly higher total scores on the K-CBCL and all its subscales (p<0.001) than the epilepsy group, except on the somatic complaints subscale (p=0.275).

Conclusion: Children with newly diagnosed ADHD suffer from various behavioral problems; therefore, the early assessment of and interventions for comorbid behavioral problems should be conducted for optimal management of childhood ADHD.