title: [WISC-IV performances of young male subjects with AD(H)D, the benefits of applying cognitive profile analysis to diagnostics].
abstract: Studies suggest that children and adolescents suffering from AD(H)D show a specific WISC-IV profile in comparison to subjects of the same age group without any mental disorder. The present study compares the cognitive profiles of male subjects with AD(H)D to those of a clinical control group. The benefits of applying an ADHD specific cognitive profile analysis to differential diagnostics are analyzed.
  
  
  
  The WISC-IV profiles of 50 male subjects with AD(H)D (8 to 15 years) were compared with the profiles of 54 male children and adolescents(7 to 16 years) with other mental disorders. In addition, subgroup differences within the AD(H)D group were investigated.
  
  
  
  Subjects with AD(H)D showed a significant lower processing speed than the control group. Within the AD(H)D group, patients with ADD showed the lowest speed index. There were no group differences in total IQ and other WISC-IV indexes.
  
  
  
  A WISC-IV profile analysis is not a suitable instrument to certainly confirm or exclude an AD(H)D diagnosis. Nevertheless, the results of the present study speak for considering the WISC-IV profile in the diagnosis of AD(H)D as it increases the sensitivity of the clinical diagnostic process and provides useful indicators for differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Sana-Klinikum Remscheid.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walg
authors.affiliation: 2 LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bowi
authors.affiliation: 3 Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El-Wahsch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011930:Reaction Time; D012016:Reference Values; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: ADHD; processing speed; cognitive profile; WISC-IV; differential diagnosis