The objectives of the study were to determine which parents or teachers predict attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) better in children and adolescents, and to detect both diagnostical a...
Aripiprazole contributes an increase in body mass index and attenuation in anorexia nervosa (AN) symptoms, leading clinical improvements with lower side‐effect profile; but it is not enough to cure comorbid depressive symptoms in AN.
Observational reports of parents and teachers might conflict in the diagnostic process of pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of parents and teachers in identifying ADHD in children, focusing on the influences of parental education level, child gender, and age. Data were derived from the Turkish Epidemiological Survey in Childhood Psychopathologies, encompassing 5,830 children aged 6-13 years. ADHD diagnoses were determined using a semi-structured interview and impairment ratings from both parents and teachers. Both groups completed the ADHD Rating Scale-IV to identify ADHD-related symptoms. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by comparing sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value across informants. Parental education was categorized into lower (LEL) and higher education levels (HEL). Teachers exhibited significantly higher diagnostic accuracy (93.7%) compared to parents (89.9%, p < 0.001), a trend consistent across gender and age groups. Teachers predicted ADHD in girls (95.2%) with greater accuracy than boys (92.1%), and similar patterns were observed for parents (girls: 92.0%, boys: 88.0%, p < 0.001). Parents with HEL demonstrated better diagnostic performance (91.3%) than those with LEL (89.4%, p < 0.05), though both were outperformed by teachers. Accuracy slightly declined in older children (10-13 years), but the differences were statistically insignificant. The findings highlight teachers' superior ability to predict ADHD, likely due to their comparative observational advantages in structured settings. Parental education and child gender also influenced diagnostic performance. These results underscore the importance of incorporating teacher reports into diagnostic protocols while addressing socio-educational disparities to improve parent-reported accuracy.
This study aimed to examine the associations between Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in children and adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We included sixty "ADHD-only" cases and eighty-two "ADHD + SLD" cases with an IQ score of 80 and above, aged 8-15. We applied both a structured psychiatric interview and a mental status examination. Parents completed the ADHD-Rating Scale IV, Barkley Child Attention Scale, and Specific Learning Disorder-Evaluation Scale. The sample consisted of 94 boys and 48 girls. The mean age of the cases was 10,90 ± 2,32. The "ADHD + SLD" group had a higher proportion of cases with CDS than the "ADHD-only" group (47,6% vs 15%). The "ADHD + SLD" group had significantly higher CDS-total, CDS-sluggish, and CDS-daydreaming scores than the "ADHD-only" group. SLD score was positively associated with CDS-total, CDS-sluggish, and CDS-daydreaming scores. Even when controlled for inattentive symptoms, IQ, drug treatment duration, socioeconomic level, and parental education level, CDS-daydreaming scores but not CDS-sluggish scores were associated with higher SLD scores. The findings indicate a prominent association between CDS and SLD. CDS symptoms -mainly- CDS-daydreaming symptoms are essentially associated with SLD even when controlled for inattentive symptoms, IQ, drug treatment duration, and relevant demographic factors. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to a possible coexistence of CDS while evaluating cases with SLD.
26 February 2021 in Turkish Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health