[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: intellectual profile and the freedom from distraction factor].
BACKGROUND
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) usually presents a neuropsychological profile in which the freedom from distraction factor (FDF) is affected to a greater extent than the verbal comprehension factor (VCF) and the perceptual organisation factor (POF).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the intellectual profile of clinical cases with ADHD through a specific analysis of the FDF, in which we evaluated the differences compared with the VCF and the POF, between types of ADHD and with WISC-R criteria, as well as the variables that affect the probability of FDF < VCF and POF.


METHODS
Our study involved a clinical sample of 167 cases of ADHD between 6 and 16 years of age. The cases were defined according to DSM-IV criteria and the evaluation was performed using WISC-R, the Child Symptom Inventory and the social and occupational activity assessment scale. Both descriptive and exploratory statistics were used. Means were compared using ANOVA and/or t tests. Alpha was accepted if it was equal to or below 0.05 and a logistic regression method was used (alpha model parameters below or equal to 0.05). In each factor a 95% confidence interval and odds ratio were determined.


RESULTS
The criterion FDF < VCF and FOP accounted for 71.3% of the cases with ADHD and FDF < (VCF + POF) / 2 represented 81.4% (sensitivity: 81.4%). The FDF is significantly lower than both the mean that corresponds to factorial criteria derived from the WISC-R and the VCF and POF in the cases that were analysed. The mean FDF scores were significantly higher in ADHD-H (a type in which hyperactive-impulsivity predominates) than in ADHD-C (combined type) and ADHD-I (inattentive type). Comorbidity, social or school activity and intellectual quotient do not have a significant influence on the probability that FDF < VCF and POF.


CONCLUSIONS
The FDF is a neuropsychological dimension that is useful in evaluating ADHD.
López-Villalobos
J A
JA
Unidad de Salud Mental, Complejo Hospitalario de Palencia, Hospital San Telmo, España. villalobos@cop.es
Serrano-Pintado
I
I
Delgado  Sánchez-Mateos
J
J
Ruiz-Sanz
F
F
Sánchez-Azón
M I
MI
Sacristán-Martín
A M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014888:Wechsler Scales