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J Autism Dev Disord (2011) 41:11781191 DOI 10.1007/s10803-010-1135-3
ORIGINAL PAPER
Examining Autistic Traits in Children with ADHD: Does the Autism Spectrum Extend to ADHD?
Rebecca Grzadzinski Adriana Di Martino Emily Brady
Maria Angeles Mairena Matthew ONeale Eva Petkova
Catherine Lord F. Xavier Castellanos
Published online: 25 November 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
Abstract We examined to what extent increased parent reports of autistic traits in some children with Attention Decit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are the result of ADHD-related symptoms or qualitatively similar to the core characteristics of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Results conrm the presence of a subgroup of children with ADHD and elevated ratings of core ASD traits (ADHD?)
not accounted for by ADHD or behavioral symptoms. Further, analyses revealed greater oppositional behaviors, but not greater ADHD severity or anxiety, in the ADHD?
subgroup compared to those with ADHD only. These results highlight the importance of specically examining autistic traits in children with ADHD for better characterization in studies of the underlying physiopathology and treatment.
Keywords Autism Autism spectrum disorders
Attention-decit/hyperactivity disorder
Social reciprocity Social responsiveness scale
Childrens communication checklist-2
Clinical anecdotes, case reports, and empirical studies demonstrate that many children display both ADHD and ASD symptoms (Hattori et al. 2006; Holtmann et al. 2007; Mulligan et al. 2009; Nijmeijer et al. 2008; Reiersen and Todd 2008; Nijmeijer et al. 2009; Rommelse et al. 2009, 2010). Yet, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (American Psychiatric Association 1994), does not allow for the comorbid diagnoses of Attention-Decit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (referred to from here on as autism spectrum disorders, ASD). The prevalence of ADHD symptoms in individuals with a primary clinical diagnosis of ASD ranges between 13 and 50% in population and community based studies (Bradley and Isaacs 2006; Icasiano et al. 2004; Keen and Ward 2004; Montes and Halterman 2006; Ronald et al. 2008; Simonoff et al. 2008) and between 20 and 85% in clinical samples (de Bruin et al. 2007; Gadow et al. 2006; Gillberg 1989; Goldstein and Schwebach 2004; Holtmann et al. 2005, 2007; Ogino et al. 2005; Lee and Ousley 2006; Sinzig et al. 2008a; Sturm et al. 2004; Wozniak et al. 1997). The presence and nature of ASD-like symptoms (i.e., autistic traits)...