title: Overlap Between Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Searching for Distinctive/Common Clinical Features.
abstract: Recent studies support several overlapping traits between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), assuming the existence of a combined phenotype. The aim of our study was to evaluate the common or distinctive clinical features between ASD and ADHD in order to identify possible different phenotypes that could have a clinical value. We enrolled 181 subjects divided into four diagnostic groups: ADHD group, ASD group, ASD+ADHD group (that met diagnostic criteria for both ASD and ADHD), and control group. Intelligent quotient (IQ), emotional and behavior problems, ADHD symptoms, ASD symptoms, and adaptive behaviors were investigated through the following test: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or Leiter International Performances Scale Revised, Child Behavior Checklist, Conners' Rating Scales-Revised, SNAP-IV Rating Scale, the Social Communication Questionnaire, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. The ASD+ADHD group differs from ADHD or ASD in some domains such as lower IQ mean level and a higher autistic symptoms severity. However, the ASD+ADHD group shares inattention and hyperactivity deficit and some emotional and behavior problems with the ADHD group, while it shares adaptive behavior impairment with ASD group. These findings provide a new understanding of clinical manifestation of ASD+ADHD phenotype, they may also inform a novel treatment target.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Linda
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lamanna
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Margari
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simone
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs of the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Margari
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
keywords: ADHD symptoms; ASD symptoms; adaptive behaviors; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; autism spectrum disorders; emotional and behavior problems; intelligent quotient; overlapping