Clinical Presentation of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Terms of Gender and Chronological Age

Abstract

The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)symptoms in terms of gender and age. Based on convenience sampling, the data records of 1,184children and adolescents with ADHD were gathered from various Child and Adolescent PsychiatryClinics affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran). During 2010-2015, thepatients had been interviewed face-to-face for ADHD diagnosis in accordance with the Diagnosticand Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria. The collecteddata were re-analyzed using parent-reported ADHD symptoms measured with the DSM-IV clinicalsymptoms checklist. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software with the Pearsoncorrelation test, Chi-square test, and t test. PThe mean age of the participants was 9.29±2.55 years, 904 (76.40%) of whom were boys. The mean total score of hyperactivity-impulsivity in girls and boys was 2.63±2.77 and 3.19±8.17, respectively. The mean total score of inattention in girls and boys was 3.40±1.97 and 3.28±2.00, respectively. Ageand gender were not associated with the symptoms of inattentive ADHD. The symptoms associatedwith hyperactivity-impulsivity had a significant association with age (Pstatistically significant association with gender were frigidity (P=0.001), often running about (P=0.03),and often difficulties with playing or leisure activities (P=0.005). The most common symptoms ofinattentive ADHD in both boys and girls were “inattention to details or making careless mistakes”(47.6% and 54.3%, respectively) and “fails to finish work” (43.0% and 40.1%, respectively).In contrast with the hyperactivity-impulsivity, the severity of inattention was not associated withage. The results of the present study indicated that while the ADHD screening questions for inattentioncould be the same for both genders, they should be different for hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Keywords

• Age
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Gender
• prevalence
• Symptom assessment