The role of psychopathology in parent ratings of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms and child behavior problems

Abstract

Study data was obtained retrospectively from the case files of 66 children referred for behavioral evaluation at an ADHD clinic. MANOVAs were performed between parental self-reported psychopathology and parent-teacher differences on the CBCL. Findings showed that mothers with elevated symptoms on the SCL-90-R (consisting of global distress (GSI), Obsessive-Compulsive, Hostility, Somatization, Paranoid Ideation, and Phobic Anxiety) had significantly different mother-teacher ratings for child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than their non-distressed counterparts. Findings also showed that fathers with elevated symptoms (consisting of GSI, Anxisty, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Hostility, Psychoticism, Paranoid Ideation, and Depression) had significantly different father-teacher ratings for child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, than their non-distressed counterparts.