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Abstract

Introduction: ADHD is a major reason for the referral of children and adolescents to health care services due to the multidimensional nature of the impairment experienced by patients with this disorder. As such, the aim of this study was to determine whether neuropsychological and academic performance act as significant predictors of symptom intensity and quality of life in children and adolescents with ADHD. Method:The sample consisted of 96 children/adolescents with a diagnosis of ADHD, aged between 6 and 16 years (mean=10.23; SD=2.37). Symptom intensity was assessed using the SNAP-IV. The APT was used to evaluate school performance. Neuropsychological assessments were obtained using the WISC-III. Quality of life was determined using the Peds-QL4.0. Results were examined using correlation analysis and general linear models (GLMs).Results: Univariate analyses revealed a significant influence of gender on the severity of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms, as well as physical QOL. Age only influenced the severity of inattention symptoms and the social domain of QOL. The school domain of QOL was predicted by writing, arithmetic, reading and total scores on the APT. Multivariate analyses revealed a significant impact of neuropsychological performance on symptom severity and social quality of life. Academic performance predicted scores on the physical, emotional and social domains of QOL. Discussion:The variables examined in the present study were significant predictors of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD. Keywords: ADHD, neuropsychology, child development, quality of life, adolescence International Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Journal Research ArticleOpen Access The identification of predictive and causal relationships between factors associated with ADHD allows for a better comprehension of this condition and a deeper, multidimensional understanding of this area of research. In light of these observations, the aim of this study was to verify whether neuropsychological and academic performance act as predictors of QoL and the severity of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD. We also sought to investigate the effects of gender and age on QoL and symptom severity in this population. Predictors of quality of life and symptom severity in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Method ParticipantsThe sample consisted of 96 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years, with a diagnosis of ADHD. Patients were evaluated between August 2014 until June 2016 in a university reference hospital. Sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1. 21 The following parameters were considered: statistical power=0.95, alpha error rate=0,05, effect size F²=0.35(high) and 11 possible predictors (Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, Full Scale IQ, Verbal Comprehension Index, Perceptual Organization Index, Freedom from Distractibility Index, Processing Speed Index, Arithmetic Score, Writing Score, Reading Score, Total Achievement Score). The minimum ...