Brief report: prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder among individuals with an autism spectrum disorder.
Currently, both the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 preclude the diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in cases that present with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This criterion will be removed in the upcoming DSM-V, but the relationship between ASD and ADHD, and in particular the prevalence of ADHD among the ASD population, remains controversial. Previous studies have reported clinically significant ADHD symptoms in one-third to three-quarters of ASD-affected individuals (probands). In our sample of 1,838 simplex children and adolescents with ASD, we found that less than 16% met clinically significant levels of ADHD symptoms, per parent report. When both parent and teacher reports were considered, the comorbidity rate was even lower, at 2%.
Division of Developmental Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Ellen.Hanson@childrens.harvard.edu
Ellen
E
Hanson
Bettina M
BM
Cerban
Chelsea M
CM
Slater
Laura M
LM
Caccamo
Janine
J
Bacic
Eugenia
E
Chan
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries