Neuropsychological and behavioral assessment of ADHD in seven- to twelve-year-old children: A discriminant analysis

We hypothesized that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would underperform on neuropsychological tests that are sensitive t o executive function impairments. We further proposed that a linear discrim inant analysis using behavioral and neuropsychological variables as depende nt variables would pinpoint the capability of behavioral questionnaires and neuropsychological tests to predict the correct classification of ADHD and control children. We designed a transversal study with 62 seven- to twelve -year-old children with ADHD and 62 Full Scale IQ-matched controls using tw o behavioral scales and 13 neuropsychological tests. Using analysis of vari ance and covariance with age and school achievement and multifactor analysi s of variance, we found that behavioral variables established robust, stati stically significant differences between groups (p < .001). Children with A DHD scored worse than controls on 31 out of 61 neuropsychological variables . Children with ADHD, however, obtained better scores that were statistical ly significant on WISC-R Comprehension and Picture completion. A linear dis criminant analysis with nine behavioral variables correctly classified 100% of the participants in both groups. Another linear discriminant analysis u sing 10 neuropsychological variables correctly classified 85.48% of the par ticipants in both groups. We propose a core battery of selected tests for a ssessing children with ADHD. The significance of cross-cultural analyses of different developmental disturbances is emphasized.