Abstract
Objectives: To determine whether the nature and correlates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are different in subjects with mild intellectual disability (ID) compared to subjects with average ability. Method: From a general population sample of 2,726 12- to 15-year-olds, a stratified subsample was selected to enrich for mild ID. A total of 192 subjects ware included in the analyses. ADHD symptoms and other emotional/behavioral problems were measured with the parent and teacher Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and IQ with the WISC-III-UK), and social communication difficulties were assessed by a short version of the Social Communication Questionnaire and academic attainments by the Wechsler Quicktest. Results: There was a negative linear relationship between ADHD symptoms and IQ (beta = -.087, p <.001). The relationship could not be explained by inappropriate rater expectations. Neither the profiles of ADHD symptoms nor the comorbidity with emotional/behavioral problems differed according to the presence of ID. When IQ was accounted for, the group difference in attainments was nonsignificant. Conclusions: ADHD symptoms are increased in people with ID. We found no evidence that this increase can by explained by inappropriate expectations or by confounding associations with other emotional/behavioral or cognitive problems
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 591 - 600 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2007 |