Parent versus teacher ratings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).
OBJECTIVE
To assess parent-teacher concordance on ratings of DSM-IV symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of preschool children referred for an ADHD treatment study.


METHODS
Parent and teacher symptom ratings were compared for 452 children aged 3-5 years. Agreement was calculated using Pearson correlations, Cohen's kappa, and conditional probabilities.


RESULTS
The correlations between parent and teacher ratings were low for both Inattentive (r = .24) and Hyperactive-Impulsive (r = .26) symptom domains, with individual symptoms ranging from .01-.28. Kappa values for specific symptoms were even lower. Conditional probabilities suggest that teachers are only moderately likely to agree with parents on the presence or absence of symptoms. Parents were quite likely to agree with teachers' endorsement of symptoms, but much less likely to agree when teachers indicated that a symptom was not present.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide important data regarding base rates and concordance rates in this age group and support the hypothesis that preschool-aged children at risk for ADHD exhibit significant differences in behavior patterns across settings. Obtaining ratings from multiple informants is therefore considered critical for obtaining a full picture of young children's functioning.
Murray
Desiree W
DW
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. dwmurray@duke.edu
Kollins
Scott H
SH
Hardy
Kristina K
KK
Abikoff
Howard B
HB
Swanson
James M
JM
Cunningham
Charles
C
Vitiello
Benedetto
B
Riddle
Mark A
MA
Davies
Mark
M
Greenhill
Laurence L
LL
McCracken
James T
JT
McGough
James J
JJ
Posner
Kelly
K
Skrobala
Anne M
AM
Wigal
Tim
T
Wigal
Sharon B
SB
Ghuman
Jaswinder K
JK
Chuang
Shirley Z
SZ
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015588:Observer Variation; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012574:Schools
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate