title: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms reporting in Malaysian adolescents: do adolescents, parents and teachers agree with each other?
abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a clinical diagnosis relying on persistence of symptoms across different settings. Information are gathered from different informants including adolescents, parents and teachers. In this cross-sectional study involving 410 twelve-year old adolescents, 37 teachers and 367 parents from seven schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, reliability of ADHD symptoms among the various informants were reported. ADHD symptoms (i.e. predominantly hyperactive, predominantly inattentive and combined symptoms) were assessed by adolescents, teachers and parents, using Conners-Wells' Adolescent Self-report Scale (CASS), Conner's Teachers Rating Scale (CTRS) and Conner's Parents Rating Scale (CPRS) respectively. For predominantly hyperactive symptoms, there were statistically significant, weak positive correlations between parents and teachers reporting (r=0.241, p<0.01). Statistically significant, weak positive correlations were found between adolescents and parents for predominantly inattentive symptoms (r=0.283, p<0.01). Correlations between adolescents and parents reporting were statistically significant but weak (r=0.294, p<0.01). Weak correlations exist between the different informants reporting ADHD symptoms among Malaysian adolescents. While multiple informant ratings are required to facilitate the diagnosis of ADHD, effort should be taken to minimize the disagreement in reporting and better utilize the information.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaakob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: wan@ppukm.ukm.edu.my.
authors: Wan Ismail
authors: WI
authors: Wan Salwina
authors: Azlin
authors: A
authors: Baharudin
authors: Nik Jaafar
authors: NJ
authors: Nik Ruzyanei
authors: Marhani
authors: M
authors: Midin
authors: Fairuz Nazri Abdul
authors: FN
authors: Rahman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012574:Schools
keywords: ADHD symptoms reporting; Malaysian adolescents; Reliability