OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the DSM-IV requirement of an age of onset of impairment due to symptoms before 7 years of age for the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: The validity of this criterion was examined in a clinic sample of 380 youths aged 4 through 17 years by comparing youths who met symptom criteria for ADHD and either did or did not display impairment before age 7 years. RESULTS: Nearly all youths who met symptom criteria for the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive subtype also met the age of onset of impairment criterion, but 18% of youths who met symptom criteria for the combined type, and 43% of youths who met symptom criteria for the predominantly inattentive type, did not manifest impairment before 7 years. For the latter two subtypes, requiring impairment before age 7 years reduced the accuracy of identification of currently impaired cases of ADHD and reduced agreement with clinicians' judgments. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise questions about the validity of the DSM-IV definition of age of onset of ADHD. Marked differences in the ages of onset of both symptoms and impairment for the three subtypes of ADHD support the validity of distinguishing among these subtypes in DSM-IV.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the DSM-IV requirement of an age of onset of impairment due to symptoms before 7 years of age for the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: The validity of this criterion was examined in a clinic sample of 380 youths aged 4 through 17 years by comparing youths who met symptom criteria for ADHD and either did or did not display impairment before age 7 years. RESULTS: Nearly all youths who met symptom criteria for the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive subtype also met the age of onset of impairment criterion, but 18% of youths who met symptom criteria for the combined type, and 43% of youths who met symptom criteria for the predominantly inattentive type, did not manifest impairment before 7 years. For the latter two subtypes, requiring impairment before age 7 years reduced the accuracy of identification of currently impaired cases of ADHD and reduced agreement with clinicians' judgments. CONCLUSIONS: These findings raise questions about the validity of the DSM-IV definition of age of onset of ADHD. Marked differences in the ages of onset of both symptoms and impairment for the three subtypes of ADHD support the validity of distinguishing among these subtypes in DSM-IV.
Authors: Amanda Cremone-Caira; Helen Root; Elizabeth A Harvey; Jennifer M McDermott; Rebecca M C Spencer Journal: J Atten Disord Date: 2019-05-29 Impact factor: 3.256
Authors: Mary V Solanto; Sharone N Gilbert; Anu Raj; John Zhu; Sabrina Pope-Boyd; Sa'brina Pope-Boyd; Brenda Stepak; Lucia Vail; Jeffrey H Newcorn Journal: J Abnorm Child Psychol Date: 2007-07-14
Authors: Mark A Riddle; Kseniya Yershova; Deborah Lazzaretto; Natalya Paykina; Gayane Yenokyan; Laurence Greenhill; Howard Abikoff; Benedetto Vitiello; Tim Wigal; James T McCracken; Scott H Kollins; Desiree W Murray; Sharon Wigal; Elizabeth Kastelic; James J McGough; Susan dosReis; Audrey Bauzó-Rosario; Annamarie Stehli; Kelly Posner Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2013-02-08 Impact factor: 8.829