C-41 Functional Impairments in Girls with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Abstract Objective ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder known to cause functional impairments. Few studies have identified impairments specific to girls with ADHD. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between ADHD subtypes and measures of functional impairment in girls. Method Participants were chosen from a sample of girls ages 5 – 18 years old, diagnosed with ADHD at an outpatient ADHD clinic at a large children’s hospital (N = 303). Measures included parent and teacher BASC subscales of adaptability, homework problems, and comorbid clinical diagnoses based on the diagnostic interview for children and adolescents-revised parent version (DICA-R). Potential relationships between impairment measures and ADHD subtypes were assessed using multiple and logistic regressions to control for age and socioeconomic status (SES). Results Number of inattentive ADHD symptoms correlates positively with DICA diagnosis of ODD (x2 = 4.008, p = 0.045) and homework problems (r = 0.227, p = 0.0001). Number of combined ADHD symptoms is positively associated with DICA diagnosis of ODD (x2 = 26.812, p = 0.0001) and homework problems (r = 0.171, p = 0.0001) and negatively associated with parent reported social skills (r = 0.092, p = 0.006), adaptability (r = 0.146, p = 0.001) and teacher reported adaptability (r = 0.057, p = 0.01), after controlling for age and SES. Discussion Girls with ADHD exhibit functional impairments in the domains of comorbid diagnoses, homework problems, parent and teacher report of adaptability, and parent report of social skills. Additional research should include self-reports of functional impairment to determine self-perception of impairment.