Diagnoses of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder from parent reports predict diagnoses based on teacher reports.
OBJECTIVE
For DSM-III attention deficit disorder (ADD), it was previously reported that, when a parent report leads to a diagnosis of ADD, it is highly likely that the teacher report will also be positive. This report seeks to generalize that finding to DSM-III-R attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
In a population of 34 children meeting clinical criteria for DSM-III-R ADHD, parents and teachers independently responded to questions about individual ADHD symptoms.


RESULTS
Correlations between parents and teachers for individual symptoms were low to moderate; however, there was a 77% probability that the teacher report would result in a positive diagnosis given a positive parent diagnosis. This probability increased to 88% if "broad" teacher diagnoses of ADHD, defined by 35% of the 14 DSM-III-R symptoms, were included.


CONCLUSIONS
In clinically-referred children, a clinical diagnosis of ADHD based on parent report is likely to be corroborated by a teacher report.
Biederman
J
J
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Faraone
S V
SV
Milberger
S
S
Doyle
A
A
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012931:Social Environment