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Brief Report: Prevalence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Currently, both the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 preclude the diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in cases that present with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This criterion will be removed in the upcoming DSM-V, but the relationship between ASD and ADHD, and in particular the prevalence of ADHD among the ASD population, remains controversial. Previous studies have reported clinically significant ADHD symptoms in one-third to three-quarters of ASD-affected individuals (probands). In our sample of 1,838 simplex children and adolescents with ASD, we found that less than 16 % met clinically significant levels of ADHD symptoms, per parent report. When both parent and teacher reports were considered, the comorbidity rate was even lower, at 2 %.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr Leonard Rappaport for constant support and review of this paper. This study was supported in part by grants from the Simons Foundation, Boston Autism Consortium and the National Institutes of Health (MH85143 and MH083565-01).

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Author notes

  1. Janine Bacic

    Present address: Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Developmental Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Ellen Hanson, Bettina M. Cerban, Chelsea M. Slater, Laura M. Caccamo & Eugenia Chan

  2. Division of Developmental Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Ellen Hanson, Bettina M. Cerban, Chelsea M. Slater, Laura M. Caccamo & Eugenia Chan

  3. Clinical Research Program, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Janine Bacic

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  1. Ellen Hanson
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Correspondence to Ellen Hanson.

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Hanson, E., Cerban, B.M., Slater, C.M. et al. Brief Report: Prevalence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1459–1464 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1677-7

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