Conduct Disorder and Hyperactivity: I

Abstract

The distinction between hyperactivity and conduct disorder was explored in a mixed group of 64 children referred to psychiatric clinics because of antisocial or disruptive behaviour. A semi-structured interview measure (the Parental Account of Children's Symptoms, PACS) proved to have adequate inter-rater reliability, internal consistency and factorial validity. The PACS scales of defiance and hyperactivity, and similar subscales from Conners' Teacher Rating Scale, were tested against laboratory and clinical measures of activity, attention, cognitive performance, psychosocial background and family relationships. The hyperactivity (but not the defiance) scales were associated with greater activity, younger age, poorer cognitive performance and abnormalities on a developmental neurological examination. The defiance (but not the hyperactivity) scales were associated with impairment of family relationships and adverse social factors. It was concluded that a dimension of inattentive, restless activity should be separated from one of antisocial, defiant conduct in children with psychiatric disorder.

The analysis of 51 genes in DSM-IV combined type attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: association signals in DRD4, DAT1 and 16 other genes

“…PACS is a semistructured, standardised, investigator-based interview developed as an instrument to provide an objective measure of child behaviour. 28 A trained interviewer administers PACS with parents, who are asked for detailed descriptions of the child's typical behaviour in a range of specified situations. Such situations are defined either by external events (e.g.…”

“…In addition, we included the analysis of VNTR polymorphisms from exon three of the DRD4, the 3 0 -untranlsated region and intron 8 of the DAT1, and promotor region of the serotonin transporter (SERT) genes, which had previously been associated with ADHD. 8,28 Standard PCR protocols were used for all VNTR markers and amplified products visualised on 2% agarose under UV light, as previously described. [31][32][33] SNP selection We adopted a 'biological systems' approach by nominating 46 genes that were likely to exert an effect through regulation of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, as well as six circadian rhythm genes.…”

The behavioural profile of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and of their siblings

“…The Parental Account of Children's Symptoms (PACS) [24], a semi-structured, standardized, investigator-based interview was used for diagnostic assessment of ADHD. Children with their families were included if at least one child met criteria of the DSM-IV combined type, as resulting from both the PACS and items that scored 2 and 3 from the teacher-rated Conners ADHD-Index of the CTRS.…”

Differential family and peer environmental factors are related to severity and comorbidity in children with ADHD

“…1 for consort diagram). After entry to the IMAGE project, the clinical diagnosis of the ADHD probands and siblings was verified with the parental account of childhood symptoms (PACS, Taylor et al 1986). PACS is a semi-structured standardized, investigator-based interview developed as an instrument to provide an objective measure of children's behavior.…”