SELF-REPORTED INATTENTION, IMPULSIVITY, AND HYPERACTIVITY AT AGES 15 AND 18 YEARS IN THE GENERAL-POPULATION

Objective: Prevalence, impact, and continuity of self-reported attenti on deficit disorder (ADD) symptomology from ages 15 to 18 years were e xamined in a longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort. Method: At age 15, prevalence of ADD symptomology was estimated, with no gend er differences found in self-reported symptomology. Four adolescents ( 0.5%) met full DSM-III criteria for ADD. Adolescents scoring higher th an 1.5 SD above the sample mean on total ADD symptom score were identi fied as having high levels of ADD symptomology. Results: Male and fema le adolescents reporting ADD symptomology with (6% of males; 4% of fem ales) and without history of behavior disorder (6% of males; 7% of fem ales) did not differ in inattention and impulsivity, received more dia gnoses other than ADD, and experienced more adverse educational and so cial outcomes at 15 and 18 years than did the nonADD group. Conclusion s: Findings pertaining to the ADD with history group were consistent w ith previous research on the outcome of hyperactive children, whereas the ADD without history group may be reflecting the onset of other pat hology in adolescence. Results suggest adolescent self-report of atten tional difficulties may be a clinically significant marker of adjustme nt difficulties for both males and females, but additional information likely is needed for accurate diagnosis.