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Examining the Validity of ADHD as a Diagnosis for Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities: Clinical Presentation

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Abstract

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at heightened risk for mental disorders. Using current diagnostic criteria, disruptive behavior disorders, specifically Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), appear to be the most prevalent co-occurring disorders. However, the validity of ADHD as a diagnosis for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities remains unclear. The present study examined the clinical presentation of ADHD (prevalence, sex differences, and comorbidity) among adolescents with and without intellectual disability (ID) as well as investigated the validity of ADHD for adolescents with ID by examining similarities in terms of symptom presentation, developmental course, and associated functional impairment. The sample included 142 adolescents and their families, about a third of whom were classified in the ID group and the remaining were in the typically developing (TD) group. Findings indicated that adolescents with ID continue to be at elevated risk for ADHD (risk ratio: 3.38:1) compared to their typically developing peers. Additionally, the presentation of ADHD appeared similar among adolescents with and without ID, supporting the validity of an ADHD diagnosis for this population of adolescents. Implications for public policy and intervention are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was based on the activities of the Collaborative Family Study, supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Grant number: 34879-1459 (Drs. Keith Crnic, Bruce Baker, and Jan Blacher PIs). We are indebted to our staff and doctoral student colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Riverside, Arizona State University, and Pennsylvania State University. We are also thankful for the families in the Collaborative Family Study whose commitment makes our research possible.

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  1. Cameron L. Neece

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Cameron L. Neece & Bruce L. Baker

  2. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Keith Crnic

  3. University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    Jan Blacher

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Neece, C.L., Baker, B.L., Crnic, K. et al. Examining the Validity of ADHD as a Diagnosis for Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities: Clinical Presentation. J Abnorm Child Psychol 41, 597–612 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9698-4

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