Evaluation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in male children with high-functioning pervasive developmental disorders.
BACKGROUND
Although there are many reports of high rates of hyperactivity and attention deficits in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), controversy remains about the applicability of the diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to PDD children. The present study elucidates the similarities and differences of ADHD symptoms in PDD children compared to ADHD children.


METHODS
Twenty-seven male children with PDD+ADHD Combined type (ADHD-C), 17 males with ADHD-C, and 9 males with PDD without ADHD-C, were compared on measures of ADHD symptoms and related behaviors using parent ratings and teacher ratings on the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHDRS), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF).


RESULTS
The PDD+ADHD-C and the ADHD-C groups had significantly higher ratings than the PDD only group for all the scores on both the parent-rated and the teacher-rated ADHDRS. The ADHD-C and PDD+ADHD-C groups had significantly higher scores than the PDD group on Delinquent Behavior, Aggressive Behavior, and Externalizing Behavior of the CBCL and on Delinquent Behavior of the TRF; there were no significant differences between the ADHD-C and PDD+ADHD-C groups on any scores of the CBCL and TRF.


CONCLUSIONS
The PDD+ADHD-C and ADHD-C groups share a similar profile of ADHD symptoms and externalizing behaviors, and the comorbidity of ADHD and PDD should be suspected when ADHD symptoms are present in PDD children.
Matsushima
Noriaki
N
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Osaka City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. noriama@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Miyawaki
Dai
D
Tsuji
Hisashi
H
Takahashi
Kazuhiro
K
Horino
Akemi
A
Kawaguchi
Takeshi
T
Suzuki
Futoshi
F
Kiriike
Nobuo
N
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012720:Severity of Illness Index