title: Preschool onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: course and predictors of stability over 24 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined the course of ADHD over 24 months in a preschool population.
  
  
  METHODS
  n=48 preschoolers with ADHD, aged 3.0-5.11 years, subjects included in a larger sample of preschoolers with depression and other disorders (n=306) were comprehensively assessed at 3 annual time points over 24 months in a prospective longitudinal follow-up study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline diagnoses of preschool MDD, ODD, and CD were risk factors for ADHD diagnosis over 24 months in this preschool population. Among older preschoolers and after controlling for key demographic variables, ADHD predicted later ADHD diagnosis, along with other significant risk factors - baseline diagnosis of ODD, and/or family history of disruptive disorders, and stressful life events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD showed greater homotypic continuity at later rather than earlier preschool ages. Other disruptive comorbidities also emerged as key predictors of stable ADHD course. Study findings may help to inform which preschool ADHD populations to target for early intervention. Larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings and to further explore the stability, course, and predictors of outcome of preschool onset ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry (Child), St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. tandonm@psychiatry.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Mini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tandon
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luby
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome