Estimating the internalizing and externalizing problems in siblings of patients with ADHD

Volume : VIII, Issue : V, May - 2018

Dr. Hemika Agrawal, Dr. Manish Borasi

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the internalizing and externalizing problems in siblings of patients with attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder.

METHOD: The study conducted was a cross sectional study in design. A total of 30 patients of ADHD and their siblings were assessed. DSM IV

TR was chosen for diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder in children and appropriate scales were applied to assess the severity of

ADHD(CARS), to rule out comorbid psychiatric illness(K–SADS) and for screening of internalizing and externalizing symptoms(CBCL).

RESULTS: The sibling group had 23.3% children falling in clinical range of externalizing symptoms, 36.67% in the borderline range, and 40%

in the normal range. Internalizing symptoms were measured by anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed and somatic complaints assessed on

the Child Behavior Checklist. With respect to internalizing problems, more children i.e. 70% fell in the clinical range, 10% in the borderline

range and 20% in the normal range.

CONCLUSION: This study found that the sibling group had almost 1/4th children with clinical range of externalizing problems, and more than

1/3rd in borderline range (as assessed by CBCL). More than 2/3rd of the sibling group had clinical range of internalizing problems, and 1/10th

had borderline range of internalizing problems. More (twice) the number of siblings were in normal range for externalizing problems than

internalizing problems.