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External Validation of Bifactor Model of ADHD: Explaining Heterogeneity in Psychiatric Comorbidity, Cognitive Control, and Personality Trait Profiles Within DSM-IV ADHD

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Abstract

The current paper provides external validation of the bifactor model of ADHD by examining associations between ADHD latent factor/profile scores and external validation indices. 548 children (321 boys; 302 with ADHD), 6 to 18 years old, recruited from the community participated in a comprehensive diagnostic procedure. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist, Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire, and California Q-Sort. Children completed the Stop and Trail-Making Task. Specific inattention was associated with depression/withdrawal, slower cognitive task performance, introversion, agreeableness, and high reactive control; specific hyperactivity-impulsivity was associated with rule-breaking/aggressive behavior, social problems, errors during set-shifting, extraversion, disagreeableness, and low reactive control. It is concluded that the bifactor model provides better explanation of heterogeneity within ADHD than DSM-IV ADHD symptom counts or subtypes.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by NIH National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH63146 and MH59105 to Joel Nigg and MH70542 to Karen Friderici and Joel Nigg. We are indebted to the families and staff who made this study possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of New Orleans, 2005 Geology & Psychology Building, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA

    Michelle M. Martel, Bethan Roberts & Monica Gremillion

  2. Psychology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

    Alexander von Eye

  3. Psychiatry Department, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, USA

    Joel T. Nigg

Authors
  1. Michelle M. Martel
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  2. Bethan Roberts
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  3. Monica Gremillion
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  4. Alexander von Eye
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  5. Joel T. Nigg
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Correspondence to Michelle M. Martel.

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Martel, M.M., Roberts, B., Gremillion, M. et al. External Validation of Bifactor Model of ADHD: Explaining Heterogeneity in Psychiatric Comorbidity, Cognitive Control, and Personality Trait Profiles Within DSM-IV ADHD. J Abnorm Child Psychol 39, 1111–1123 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9538-y

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