TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between autism symptoms and child functioning in a sample with ADHD recruited from the community
AU - Stephens, Kate
AU - O’Loughlin, Rachel
AU - Green, Jessica L.
AU - Anderson, Vicki
AU - Rinehart, Nicole
AU - Nicholson, Jan M.
AU - Hazell, Philip
AU - Silk, Timothy J.
AU - Efron, Daryl
AU - Sciberras, Emma
N1 - Funding Information:
Stephens Kate 1 2 O’Loughlin Rachel 2 Green Jessica L. 2 Anderson Vicki 2 3 4 Rinehart Nicole 1 Nicholson Jan M. 5 Hazell Philip 6 Silk Timothy J. 1 2 Efron Daryl 2 3 4 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2812-303X Sciberras Emma 1 2 1 Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2 Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3 The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 4 University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 5 La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 6 University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Emma Sciberras, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria 3125, Australia. Email: [email protected] 11 2019 1087054719886352 © The Author(s) 2019 2019 SAGE Publications Objective: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms are associated with poorer functioning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it is unclear which ASD symptom domains are most impairing. This study investigated whether specific ASD symptom domains were associated with child functioning in children with ADHD. Method: Parents of 164 children with ADHD completed a diagnostic interview to assess ADHD and comorbidities. Parents reported on ASD symptoms (Social Communication Questionnaire) and child quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0). Parents and teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (emotional, conduct, and peer problems). Results: Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors were independently associated with emotional ( p = .02) and conduct ( p = .03) problems, and poorer quality of life ( p = .004). Reciprocal social interaction deficits were independently associated with peer problems ( p = .03). Conclusion: Reciprocal social interaction deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors are important areas that should be focused on in ADHD assessment and treatment. ADHD Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) comorbidity National Health and Medical Research Council https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000925 1008522 National Health and Medical Research Council https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000925 1065895 National Health and Medical Research Council https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000925 1110688: 2016-21 murdoch children's research institute https://doi.org/10.13039/100014555 Collier Foundation edited-state corrected-proof Author’s Note Timothy J. Silk and Emma Sciberras are also affiliated with University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This project was funded by Project Grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHRMC) (1065895 and 1008522), the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), and the Collier Foundation. Associate Professor Emma Sciberras was funded by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1110688: 2016-21) and a veski Inspiring Women Fellowship. Dr. Efron was funded by a Clinician Scientist Fellowship from the MCRI. Professor Jan M. Nicholson was funded by the Australian Communities Foundation (Coronella sub-fund) at La Trobe University. Professor Vicki Anderson was supported by an NHMRC Senior Practitioner fellowship. MCRI was supported by the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. ORCID iD Emma Sciberras https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2812-303X
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2019.
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - Objective: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms are associated with poorer functioning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it is unclear which ASD symptom domains are most impairing. This study investigated whether specific ASD symptom domains were associated with child functioning in children with ADHD. Method: Parents of 164 children with ADHD completed a diagnostic interview to assess ADHD and comorbidities. Parents reported on ASD symptoms (Social Communication Questionnaire) and child quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0). Parents and teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (emotional, conduct, and peer problems). Results: Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors were independently associated with emotional (p =.02) and conduct (p =.03) problems, and poorer quality of life (p =.004). Reciprocal social interaction deficits were independently associated with peer problems (p =.03). Conclusion: Reciprocal social interaction deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors are important areas that should be focused on in ADHD assessment and treatment.
AB - Objective: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms are associated with poorer functioning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it is unclear which ASD symptom domains are most impairing. This study investigated whether specific ASD symptom domains were associated with child functioning in children with ADHD. Method: Parents of 164 children with ADHD completed a diagnostic interview to assess ADHD and comorbidities. Parents reported on ASD symptoms (Social Communication Questionnaire) and child quality of life (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0). Parents and teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (emotional, conduct, and peer problems). Results: Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors were independently associated with emotional (p =.02) and conduct (p =.03) problems, and poorer quality of life (p =.004). Reciprocal social interaction deficits were independently associated with peer problems (p =.03). Conclusion: Reciprocal social interaction deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors are important areas that should be focused on in ADHD assessment and treatment.
KW - ADHD
KW - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
KW - comorbidity
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85075205110
U2 - 10.1177/1087054719886352
DO - 10.1177/1087054719886352
M3 - Article
C2 - 31711354
AN - SCOPUS:85075205110
SN - 1087-0547
VL - 25
SP - 1129
EP - 1134
JO - Journal of Attention Disorders
JF - Journal of Attention Disorders
IS - 8
ER -