Trait-Based Dimensions Discriminating Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and, Co-occurring ADHD/ASD.

Artemios Pehlivanidis,Artemios Pehlivanidis,Vasileios Mantas,Vasileios Mantas,Eva Kalantzi,Katerina Papanikolaou,Kalliopi Korobili,Kalliopi Korobili,Dimitra Pappa,Charalambos Papageorgiou,Eva Kalantzi,Dimitra Pappa

doi:10.3390/brainsci11010018

Artemios Pehlivanidis, Artemios Pehlivanidis + Show 10 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010018

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Abstract

This study assessed the co-occurrence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in newly diagnosed adults of normal intelligence and the contribution of trait-based dimensions deriving from the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV (BAARS-IV), the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and the Empathy Quotient (EQ) to the differentiation of patients with ADHD, ASD, and ADHD/ASD. A total of 16.1% of patients with ADHD received a co-occurring ASD diagnosis, while 33.3% of patients with ASD received an ADHD diagnosis. Subjects with ADHD or ADHD/ASD had higher scores in all ADHD traits compared to ASD subjects. Compared to the ADHD group, the ASD group had AQ scores that were significantly greater, except for attention to detail. ADHD/ASD co-occurrence significantly increased the score of attention to detail. The total EQ score was greater in the ADHD group. In the stepwise logistic regression analyses, past hyperactivity, current inattention and impulsivity, attention switching, communication, imagination, and total EQ score discriminated ADHD patients from ASD patients. Attention to detail, imagination, and total EQ score discriminated ADHD cases from ADHD/ASD cases, while past hyperactivity and current impulsivity discriminated ASD subjects from ADHD/ASD subjects. Our findings highlight the importance of particular trait-based dimensions when discriminating adults with ADHD, ASD, and co-occurring ADHD/ASD.

Highlights

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)are amongst the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders
The aim of the present study was twofold: first, to estimate the rate of co-occurrence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ASD in adults with normal intelligence that were referred for the first time in their lives to an Adult Neurodevelopmental Department, and second, to examine how the total score and individual trait dimensions, such as the current and past inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are derived from the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating ScaleIV (BAARS), the five subscales deriving from the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and the total score of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) could help a clinician in everyday clinical practice to identify variables that could differentiate patients with ADHD, ASD, and ADHD/ASD
We focused on the extent to which these trait dimensions can be helpful in disentangling the most puzzling group of patients with a dual ADHD/ASD diagnosis

Summary

Introduction

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)are amongst the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ADHD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsiveness, and/or hyperactivity that remain relatively persistent over time and result in impairment across multiple domains of life activities. ASD is characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior or interests [1]. These disorders typically have a childhood onset and persist into adult life, but there is a significant unmet clinical and research need to understand the persistence into adulthood [2,3,4,5,6,7]. Despite the fact that prior to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders licenses/by/4.0/)

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