Correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV definitions of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in clinically referred children. Results of the field trials led to the hypothesis that there would be a strong correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV subtypes.


METHODS
The sample consisted of all children and adolescents consecutively referred to a pediatric psychopharmacology clinic (N = 405). Children were comprehensively evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews assessing both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD. DSM-III-R symptoms were used to approximate DSM-IV subtypes. Kappa statistics and conditional probabilities were used to examine the correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD.


RESULTS
Ninety-three percent of children who received a DSM-III-R diagnosis of ADHD also received a DSM-IV ADHD diagnosis. The kappa coefficient assessing the agreement between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD was .73 (z = 14.6, p < .0001). The kappa coefficient assessing the agreement between the DSM-III-R-approximated subtypes and the actual DSM-IV subtypes was .71 (z = 15, p < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm previous findings and indicate that the change from DSM-III-R to DSM-IV results in minimal changes in case identification and provides support for diagnostic continuity between the two classification systems.
Biederman
J
J
Joint Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Faraone
S V
SV
Weber
W
W
Russell
R L
RL
Rater
M
M
Park
K S
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results