Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in a clinic sample of children and adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this systematic chart review were to determine the frequency of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a clinic sample of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), to compare ADHD symptoms in children with Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and pervasive developmental disorders-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to compare ADHD symptoms in individuals with and without ADHD-related chief complaints, and to determine the correlation between ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD RS) scores and age.


METHODS
This systematic chart review examined data from children and adolescents who were consecutively referred to a university-based autism psychopharmacology program. All individuals were diagnosed by semistructured interview for ASD and ADHD, and ADHD symptoms were assessed using ADHD RS scores.


RESULTS
Of 83 children, 78% fulfilled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria for ADHD and exceeded the 93rd percentile norm for the ADHD RS. Hyperactivity-impulsivity scores were significantly greater in individuals with autism than those with other ASDs. DSM-IV ADHD diagnosis was represented equally in individuals with and without ADHD as their chief complaints. ADHD RS hyperactivity-impulsivity and total scores were negatively correlated with age.


CONCLUSIONS
ADHD symptoms are pervasive in clinically referred children and adolescents with ASD.
Lee
Douglas O
DO
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. douglaslee_jcbm@bellsouth.net
Ousley
Opal Y
OY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires