Differential Diagnosis Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder—Not Otherwise Specified

Abstract

The lack of clarity in diagnostic classification and the lack of specificity of assessment devices deter accurate identification of children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD--NOS). The current study was designed to assess the utility of the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC) and the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-48) in differentiating PDD--NOS from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), disorders with overlapping symptom constellations. Subjects were 44 children recruited from a tertiary-care center with the diagnosis of ADHD or PDD--NOS. Results showed significant differences between groups on PIC scales assessing internalizing behaviors, social skills, and unusual affect and behavior. There were no group differences on the externalizing or learning scales of the CPRS-48. Discriminant function analysis using preselected PIC variables yielded a correct group classification of 92.7%. The PIC appears to be a useful tool in the differential diagnosis between PDD--NOS and ADD, while the CPRS-48, a commonly used screening measure for attentional and behavioral disorders, does not.

Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Assessing Attention and Response Control with the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test

“…Clinicians and researchers have frequently reported that many children with highfunctioning autism are often misdiagnosed or initially diagnosed with ADHD (Jensen, Larrieu, & Mack, 1997;Keen & Ward, 2004;Perry, 1998). It has been postulated that the increased identification of autism in children with ADHD may be a contributing factor in the rise of reported prevalence of autism (Charman & Baird, 2002;Keen & Ward, 2004).…”

Differentiating Among Children with PDD-NOS, ADHD, and those with a Combined Diagnosis on the Basis of WISC-III Profiles

“…Luteijn et al 2000). Examples of clinical cases that had to be rediagnosed from ADHD to PPD-NOS (Jensen et al 1997;Perry 1998), as well as children that evolved in the opposite direction as they matured (Fein et al 2005), have confirmed that there are no sharp boundaries between the categories and that it is often difficult to diagnose children as belonging to either one.…”

ADHD: diagnostische beoordelingsmethoden door APRN’s

“…Leeshandicaps, leerproblemen, minder ernstige pervasieve ontwikkelingsstoornissen en auditieve verwerkingstoornissen kunnen vanwege de overlappende symptomatologie tot dezelfde gedragssymptomen leiden als die welke met ADHD verband houden en vice versa. [6][7][8][9] Om de juiste diagnostische en therapeutische methoden te kunnen toepassen, moeten de typische ADHD-gedragingen worden onderscheiden van de vergelijkbare gedragingen die met andere stoornissen verband houden. Zorgverleners dienen zich er bewust van te zijn dat dagelijkse manifestaties van overmatige activiteit, impulsiviteit of onoplettendheid niet noodzakelijkerwijs de diagnose ADHD impliceren.…”

“…De meting levert 5 klinische scores op (gedragsproblemen, leerproblemen, psychosomatisch, impulsief-hyperactief en angst) en een aparte hyperactiviteitsindex 7,22) .…”