Normalized functioning in youths with persistent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to examine normalization of functioning among youths with persistent attention-deficit hyperactivity/disorder (ADHD) symptoms.


METHODS
Subjects were 85 referred boys with persistent ADHD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition (DSM-III-R) who were followed up prospectively into mid adolescence and 68 boys without ADHD. These subjects were assessed at baseline and follow-up visits by using measures from 3 domains of functioning: school, social, and emotional. For each of these domains, we defined boys with ADHD as having normalized functioning if they attained scores above the 5th percentile of scores in the non-ADHD group.


RESULTS
Twenty percent of boys with ADHD were functioning poorly in all 3 domains, 20% were functioning well in all 3 domains, and 60% had intermediate outcomes. Increased exposure to maternal psychopathology, larger family size, DSM-III-R psychiatric comorbidity, and symptoms of impulsivity were negatively associated with normalization of functioning among children with persistent ADHD.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that children with ADHD have a variable emotional, educational, and social adjustment despite syndromatic persistence. This suggests that normalization of functioning and syndromatic persistence of ADHD may be partially independent.
Biederman
J
J
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Mick
E
E
Faraone
S V
SV
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index