TY - JOUR
T1 - A Network Analysis of Developmental Change in ADHD Symptom Structure From Preschool to Adulthood
AU - Martel, Michelle M.
AU - Levinson, Cheri A.
AU - Langer, Julia K.
AU - Nigg, Joel T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, © The Author(s) 2016.
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - Although there is substantial support for the validity of the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is considerable disagreement about how to best capture developmental changes in the expression of ADHD symptomatology. This article examines the associations among the 18 individual ADHD symptoms using a novel network analysis approach, from preschool to adulthood. The 1,420 participants were grouped into four age brackets: preschool (ages 3–6, n = 109), childhood (ages 6–12, n = 548), adolescence (ages 13–17, n = 357), and young adulthood (ages 18–36, n = 406). All participants completed a multistage, multi-informant diagnostic process, and self and informant symptom ratings were obtained. Network analysis indicated ADHD symptom structure became more differentiated over development. Two symptoms, often easily distracted and difficulty sustaining attention, appeared as central, or core, symptoms across all age groups. Thus, a small number of core symptoms may warrant extra weighting in future diagnostic systems.
AB - Although there is substantial support for the validity of the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is considerable disagreement about how to best capture developmental changes in the expression of ADHD symptomatology. This article examines the associations among the 18 individual ADHD symptoms using a novel network analysis approach, from preschool to adulthood. The 1,420 participants were grouped into four age brackets: preschool (ages 3–6, n = 109), childhood (ages 6–12, n = 548), adolescence (ages 13–17, n = 357), and young adulthood (ages 18–36, n = 406). All participants completed a multistage, multi-informant diagnostic process, and self and informant symptom ratings were obtained. Network analysis indicated ADHD symptom structure became more differentiated over development. Two symptoms, often easily distracted and difficulty sustaining attention, appeared as central, or core, symptoms across all age groups. Thus, a small number of core symptoms may warrant extra weighting in future diagnostic systems.
KW - attention
KW - developmental disorders
KW - developmental psychopathology
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U2 - 10.1177/2167702615618664
DO - 10.1177/2167702615618664
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85009216456
SN - 2167-7026
VL - 4
SP - 988
EP - 1001
JO - Clinical Psychological Science
JF - Clinical Psychological Science
IS - 6
ER -