Risk factors of autistic symptoms in children with ADHD

Abstract

Autistic symptoms are frequently observed in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but their etiology remains unclear. The main aim of this study was to describe risk factors for increased autistic symptoms in children with ADHD without an autism or autism-spectrum diagnosis. Comorbid psychiatric disorders, developmental delay, current medication, prenatal biological and postnatal psychosocial risk factors as well as parental autistic traits were assessed in 205 children with ADHD. Linear regression models identified maternal autistic traits, current familial risk factors and hyperactive symptoms as predictors of autistic symptoms in children with ADHD. Findings are indicative of possible genetic as well as environmental risk factors mediating autistic symptoms in children with ADHD. An additional validity analysis by ROC, area under the curve (AUC), suggested a cut-off of 11 to differentiate between ADHD and high-functioning ASD by the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).

Association between autism symptoms and functioning in children with ADHD

“…Although we found an association between ASD symptoms and parent-reported conduct difficulties when measured dimensionally, the relationship between ASD symptoms and externalising disorders attenuated when taking into account the presence of an internalising disorder and other potentially confounding variables, which is consistent with some other studies 1 17. The lack of a significant association between ASD symptoms and externalising disorder makes sense, given that externalising difficulties are more common in children with ADHD than ASD (54% oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in ADHD sample6 vs 28% ODD in ASD sample;37 10% conduct disorder in ADHD sample6 vs 3% conduct disorder in ASD sample37); however, our findings are suggestive of a relationship when measured dimensionally by parent report.…”

“…In some studies, ASD symptoms in children with ADHD have been linked to greater externalising12–16 and internalising difficulties,14–16 while others have not found these relationships 1 17. Further, some studies have reported a link between ASD symptoms in children with ADHD and elevated peer problems;14 16 however, one study reported that children with ADHD+ASD symptoms had equivalent peer difficulties to children with ADHD only 18.…”

Autism spectrum disorder symptoms in children with ADHD: A community-based study

“…We did find a significant relationship between hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and total ASD symptoms in children with ADHD, as has been found previously (Kroger et al, 2011), although this association attenuated in adjusted analyses. No association between hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and SCQ subscales was identified.…”

Social Communication Features in Children following Moderate to Severe Acquired Brain Injury

“…17 ADHD patients have been determined to also show autistic traits. 12,18 Our results support the possibility that the neurophysiological pathologies of acquired brain injury, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder may be related.…”