Parent reported preschool attention deficit hyperactivity: measurement and validity.

This is a two stage community study of 320 preschool children aged between two and a half to five years. An Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Scale (ADH-P) was constructed. A first stage sample was screened by asking parents to fill in the ADH-P and the Behaviour Check List (BCL) for behaviour problems; 116 children were included in the second stage. Reliability of the ADH-P was tested and found to be satisfactory. Its validity was also supported by teacher's report and clinical observation. Based on the parent report, the children were divided into four groups: pure hyperactive, pure behaviour problem, mixed and no problem groups. External correlates and psychopathology were examined among them. The mixed group had more symptoms, poor maternal mental health, high social adversities, poor prosocial behaviour and high help seeking. Whilst significant associations were also present between these correlates and pure behaviour problems, the situation was substantially worse when hyperactivity co-existed with behaviour problems.