Factor structure of the restricted academic situation scale: implications for ADHD.
BACKGROUND
To study the factor structure of the Restricted Academic Situation Scale (RASS), a psychometric tool used to assess behavior in children with ADHD, 117 boys and 21 girls meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) criteria for ADHD and aged between 6 and 12 years were recruited. Assessments were carried out before and 65 min after the administration of either a placebo or 0.25 mg/kg of methylphenidate. Placebo and methylphenidate were each administered according to a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design.


RESULTS
Principal component analysis, followed by a confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis, revealed two main factors for the RASS, task disengagement (TD) and motor activation (MA). Only TD was inversely correlated with age, indicating that TD and MA may be differentially modulated during development.


CONCLUSIONS
MA and TD are distinct traits of ADHD. It may be important to consider them separately when conducting studies on ADHD.
Karama
Sherif
S
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Canada.
Ben Amor
Leila
L
Grizenko
Natalie
N
Ciampi
Antonio
A
Mbekou
Valentin
V
Ter-Stepanian
Marina
M
Lageix
Philippe
P
Baron
Chantal
C
Schwartz
George
G
Joober
Ridha
R
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate