title: The latent structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a taxometric analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether the latent structure of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is best understood as categorical or dimensional in samples of 1774 children (aged 6-12 years) and 1222 adolescents (aged 13-17 years) drawn from an Australian epidemiological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two taxometric procedures (MAXEIG and MAMBAC) examined ADHD symptom measures assessed by diagnostic interview and parental ratings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consistent with behavioural genetic research, findings fail to support the view that a latent category underpins ADHD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD is best modelled as a continuum among both children and adolescents, and no discrete dysfunction can therefore be assumed to cause it. The placement of the diagnostic threshold should therefore be decided on pragmatic grounds (e.g. impairment or need for treatment).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. nhaslam@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Ric
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haslam
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Graetz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results