Factors related to the comorbidity between oppositional defiant disorder and anxiety disorders in preschool children

Background: The aim of the study is to identify the main factors related to comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and anxiety disorders (AD), for preschoolers, and to assess the moderating role of the children's sex. Design: The initial sample of 622 children was assessed longitudinally at the ages of 3 and 5 years by means of questionnaires and a diagnostic interview. At baseline, there were 310 boys (49.8%), most participants were of Caucasian-white ethnicity (554, 89.1%), 398 children attended to public school (64.0%) and families socioeconomic status was 64.3% medium-high, 14.1% medium and 20.5% medium-low or low levels. Methods: For the analysis, children diagnosed with ODD and/or AD were selected: n=103 at 3 years old (44 ODD, 42 AD and 17 ODD+AD) and n=106 at 5 years old (31 ODD, 60 AD and 15 ODD+AD). Results: High levels of the child's negative affectivity and the mother's aggressive behavior (versus AD), and high scores in the father's psychopathology measurements (versus ODD) are related to the presence of comorbid ODD+AD at the age of 3. High scores in the child's approach-positive anticipation, fears (only in boys, in girls the reverse effect occurred) compared to ODD and AD independently and aggressive behavior (versus AD), and low scores for smiling and laughter (versus ODD only and AD only) are predictive of comorbidity at the age of 5. Conclusions: Temperament traits may be a common factor in explaining longitudinal ODD+AD comorbidity.