A chart review study of the inattentive and combined types of ADHD.
Studies of the clinical correlates of the subtypes of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have identified differences in the representation of age, gender, prevalence, comorbidity, and treatment. We report retrospective chart review data detailing the clinical characteristics of the Inattentive (IA) and Combined (C) subtypes of ADHD in 143 cases of ADHD-IA and 133 cases of ADHD-C. The children with ADHD-IA were older, more likely to be female, and had more comorbid internalizing disorders and learning disabilities. Individuals in the ADHD-IA group were two to five times as likely to have a referral for speech and language problems. The children with ADHD-IA were rated as having less overall functional impairment, but did have difficulty with academic achievement. Children with ADHD-IA were less likely to be treated with stimulants. One eighth of the children with ADHD-IA still had significant symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity, but did not meet the DSM-IV threshold for diagnosis of ADHD-Combined Type. The ADHD-IA subtype includes children with no hyperactivity and children who still manifest clinically significant hyperactive symptomatology but do not meet DSM-IV criteria for Combined Type. ADHD-IA children are often seen as having speech and language problems, and are less likely to receive medication treatment, but respond to medical treatment with improvement both in attention and residual hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.
Weiss
M
M
Department of Psychiatry-C4, University of British Columbia, Children's and Women's Health Centre, Vancouver, Canada. mweiss@cw.bc.ca
Worling
D
D
Wasdell
M
M
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D015995:Prevalence; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants