Diagnostic utility of DSM-IV-TR symptoms in the prediction of DSM-IV-TR ADHD subtypes and ODD

Abstract

Objective: Examined the diagnostic utility of DSM-IV-TR symptoms in the prediction of DSM-IV-TR ADHD subtypes and ODD to: (a) Assess the relative utility of parent and teacher ratings, and (b) Examine the utility of individual symptoms as inclusion and exclusion criteria. Method: Parent and teacher versions of the Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale were completed for 440 children (217 boys; 223 girls) ranging in age from 9 to 13 years and were used to classify children into groups. Individual symptoms were used to compute corrected conditional probability statistics. Results: Corrected positive predictive power (cPPP) statistics indicated that parent and teacher ratings had similar diagnostic utility in the prediction of the presence of ADHD, Inattentive Type and ADHD, Hyperactive/Impulsive Type, and that their combination did not provide incremental utility over either informant alone. However, cPPP statistics for ADHD, Combined Type, and ODD indicated that teacher ratings, and the use of combined parent and teacher ratings, provided an advantage over parent ratings alone. Results support the use of a multi-method, multi-informant assessment approach.