ADHD severity as it relates to comorbid psychiatric symptomatology in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Rosleen Mansour, Allison T Dovi, David M Lane and 2 others
PMID 27889487WHAT IT FOUND
In 99 children with autism, the severity of ADHD symptoms, not the severity of autism itself, predicted the number and intensity of other psychiatric problems.
Clinicians should assess ADHD severity to identify risk for comorbid anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues.
Key findings
01ADHD severity was significantly related to a higher number of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, while autism severity was not.
02ADHD severity was significantly associated with greater severity of psychiatric symptoms on parent-rated checklists, whereas autism severity showed no significant relationship.
0386% of the children with autism in this sample also met criteria for a comorbid ADHD diagnosis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample consisted of higher-functioning children (mean IQ 84), so results may not generalize to children with ASD who have intellectual disabilities or lower cognitive abilities. The study did not include a comparison group of children with ASD who did not have ADHD, or children without either condition, limiting the ability to isolate the specific impact of ADHD versus ASD. The sample size was insufficient to analyze all specific psychiatric diagnostic categories individually. The study did not differentiate between ADHD presentations (inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, combined), which might have different relationships with comorbid conditions.
Declared interests
The study was part of a larger NIH-funded project. No specific commercial conflicts of interest or funding sources that influenced the design or writing are detailed in the provided text beyond the NIH grant mention.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autism severity is irrelevant to a child's mental health. This study shows that in a sample of higher-functioning children, ADHD severity was a stronger predictor of *additional* psychiatric comorbidities than autism severity itself. It does not mean autism symptoms are not impairing, but rather that ADHD symptoms may be the primary driver for the development of secondary issues like anxiety and conduct problems in this specific population.