Comorbidities Between Specific Learning Disorders and Psychopathology in Elementary School Children in Germany

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Linda Visser - , Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Frankfurt am Main (Author)
  • Julia Kalmar - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Janosch Linkersdörfer - , Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Frankfurt am Main (Author)
  • Ruth Görgen - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Josefine Rothe - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Marcus Hasselhorn - , Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Frankfurt am Main (Author)
  • Gerd Schulte-Körne - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

Children with reading and/or spelling disorders have increased rates of behavioral and emotional problems and combinations of these. Some studies also find increased rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression. However, the comorbidities of, e.g., arithmetic disorders with ADHD, anxiety disorder, and depression have been addressed only rarely. The current study explored the probability of children with specific learning disorders (SLD) in reading, spelling, and/or arithmetic to also have anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD, and/or conduct disorder. The sample consisted of 3,014 German children from grades 3 and 4 (mean age 9;9 years) who completed tests assessing reading, spelling as well as arithmetic achievement and intelligence via a web-based application. Psychopathology was assessed using questionnaires filled in by the parents. In children with a SLD we found high rates of anxiety disorder (21%), depression (28%), ADHD (28%), and conduct disorder (22%). Children with SLD in multiple learning domains had a higher risk for psychopathology and had a broader spectrum of psychopathology than children with an isolated SLD. The results highlight the importance of screening for and diagnosing psychiatric comorbidities in children with SLD.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)292
JournalFrontiers in psychiatry
Volume11
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC7198840
Scopus 85084441187
ORCID /0000-0001-9445-0958/work/142239398

Keywords