Comorbidities Common With ADHD Diagnosis : Among children with ADHD, 80% also meet criteria for conduct, oppositional defiant, or bipolar disorder.

When evaluating a child or adolescent for ADHD and other conditions, remember that “normal” is somewhere in the differential, Dr. Gilfillan cautioned.

However, if the ADHD, with or without comorbidity, goes untreated, drug and alcohol abuse are more likely later in life, she added.

Dr. Gilfillan is a consultant and member of the speakers' bureau for Pfizer, Ortho-McNeil, and Abbott, and is a member of the speakers' bureau for AstraZeneca.