Research article summary (published 30 May 2005):

Absence of gender effects on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: findings in nonreferred subjects.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In a previous study, the authors found that, compared with referred boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), girls are less likely to manifest comorbid disruptive behavior disorders and learning disabilities--characteristics that could adversely affect identification of ADHD in girls. However, because referral bias can affect outcome, these findings require replication in nonreferred groups of ADHD subjects. METHOD: The authors evaluated gender effects in a large group of nonreferred siblings (N=577) of probands with ADHD and non-ADHD comparison subjects. Ninety-eight of the nonreferred siblings (N=73 males, N=25 females) met the criteria for diagnosis of ADHD, and 479 (N=244 males, N=235 females) did not meet those criteria. All siblings were systematically and comprehensively assessed with measures of emotional, school, intellectual, interpersonal, and family functioning. The assessment battery used for the siblings was the same as that used for the probands. RESULTS: The nonreferred males and females with ADHD did not differ in DSM-IV subtypes of ADHD, psychiatric comorbidity, or treatment history. They also showed similar levels of cognitive, psychosocial, school, and family functioning. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the clinical correlates of ADHD are not influenced by gender and that gender differences reported in groups of subjects seen in clinical settings may be caused by referral biases.

Author information

Author/s: Biederman, Joseph (J); Kwon, Anne (A); Aleardi, Megan (M); Chouinard, Virginie-Anne (VA); Marino, Teresa (T); Cole, Heather (H); Mick, Eric (E); Faraone, Stephen V (SV);

Affiliation: Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jbiederman(-atsign-)partners.org

Grants: R01 HD-36317-01 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R01 MH-50657-07 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Jun; vol 162 (issue 6) : pp 1083-9

Dates: Created 2005/06/02; Completed 2005/08/04; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 15930056, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; epidemiology Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology Child Comorbidity Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Female Humans

Humans Learning Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology Male Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data Referral and Consultation - statistics & numerical data Selection Bias Sex Factors Siblings - psychology

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