title: Comparison of DSM-IV symptoms in elementary school-age children with PDD versus clinic and community samples.
abstract: This study compares DSM-IV symptoms in children (ages 6 to 12 years) with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), clinic controls, and community-based samples. Parents/teachers completed the Child Symptom Inventory-4 for four samples: PDD (N = 284/284) and non-PDD psychiatric clinic referrals (N = 189/181) and pupils in regular (N = 385/404) and special (N = 61/60) education classes. The PDD group received higher symptom severity ratings than the regular education group, but was similar to the non-PDD clinic sample. Screening prevalence rates were highest for ADHD, ODD, and generalized anxiety disorder. PDD subtypes exhibited differentially higher rates of psychiatric symptoms. The magnitude of rater and gender differences in symptom severity ratings was modest. Clinic-referred children with PDD exhibit a pattern of psychiatric symptoms highly similar to nonPDD clinic referrals. Although much additional research is needed on comorbidity, these symptoms have important treatment implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794-8790, USA. kenneth.gadow@stonybrook.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gadow
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Devincent
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pomeroy
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizian
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index