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Impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder‐like symptoms on the clinical features of adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders
Author(s) -
Suzumura Shunsuke
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-5872.2012.00221.x
Subject(s) - cbcl , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , psychopathology , child behavior checklist , psychology , rating scale , childhood autism rating scale , psychiatry , clinical psychology , autism , attention deficit , pervasive developmental disorder , checklist , developmental disorder , autism spectrum disorder , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology
Attention D eficit H yperactivity D isorder ( ADHD )‐like symptoms are common among children and adolescents with P ervasive D evelopmental D isorders ( PDD ). The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of ADHD ‐like symptoms on the clinical features of adolescents with PDD . Methods A total of 72 subjects (between the ages of 12 and 17) diagnosed as having PDD were split into higher ( ADHD +) and lower ( ADHD ‐) groups according to the presence of ADHD ‐like symptoms as assessed with the J apanese version of the ADHD R ating S cale‐ IV ( ADHD‐RS ‐ IV ‐ J ). Group differences in coexisting psychopathology, as assessed by the eight subscales of the J apanese version of the C hild B ehavior C hecklist for A ges 4–18 ( CBCL /4–18‐ J ) and autistic core features, as assessed by the adolescent part of the PDD ‐ A utism S ociety of J apan R ating S cale ( PARS ), were examined. Results The ADHD + subjects showed a significantly higher degree of general psychopathology, including both externalizing and internalizing symptoms, as compared to subjects in the ADHD ‐ subgroup. Additionally, the ADHD + subgroup showed greater impairment according to PARS scores. Discussion These results indicate an important role of ADHD ‐like symptoms in PDD . Therefore, parents/caregivers may find it useful to know to what extent their child's ADHD ‐like symptoms deviate from the norm for PDD adolescents and the implications of these symptoms for long‐term care. In addition, clinicians would be well advised to consider further systematic assessment of ADHD ‐like symptoms.