DSM-IV field trials for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Optimal diagnostic thresholds were determined for DSM-IV attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the psychometric properties were compared to alternative definitions.


METHODS
Structured diagnostic interviews of multiple informants for 380 clinic-referred youths aged 4-17 years were conducted. In addition, standardized clinicians' validation diagnoses of attention deficit disorder were obtained to assess agreement with clinical judgment. Measures of impairment were obtained to assess the accuracy of identifying youth with an impairing condition.


RESULTS
Three subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined types) were distinguished on the basis of the degree of deviance on separate dimensions of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. These three subtypes were found to differ in terms of types of impairment, age, and sex ratio, but not ethnicity. In terms of case identification of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, DSM-IV was found to be very similar to DSM-III-R, except that DSM-IV identified more impaired girls and preschool children.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the decision to subdivide the heterogeneous category of DSM-III-R attention deficit hyperactivity disorder into three subtypes. The resulting DSM-IV definition appears to be somewhat less biased toward the symptom pattern typical of elementary school boys.
Lahey
B B
BB
University of Miami.
Applegate
B
B
McBurnett
K
K
Biederman
J
J
Greenhill
L
L
Hynd
G W
GW
Barkley
R A
RA
Newcorn
J
J
Jensen
P
P
Richters
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching; D009626:Terminology as Topic