CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN DSM-III-R AND DSM-IV ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER/

Objective: To evaluate the correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in clinically refe rred children. Results of the field trials led to the hypothesis that there would be a strong correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV su btypes. Method: The sample consisted of all children and adolescents c onsecutively referred to a pediatric psychopharmacology clinic (N = 40 5). Children were comprehensively evaluated with structured diagnostic interviews assessing both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD. DSM-III-R sympto ms were used to approximate DSM-IV subtypes. Kappa statistics and cond itional probabilities were used to examine the correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD. Results: Ninety-three percent of children w ho received a DSM-III-R diagnosis of ADHD also received a DSM-IV ADHD diagnosis. The kappa coefficient assessing the agreement between DSM-I II-R and DSM-IV ADHD was .73 (z = 14.6, p <.0001). The kappa coefficie nt assessing the agreement between the DSM-III-R-approximated subtypes and the actual DSM-IV subtypes was .71 (z = 15, p <.0001). Conclusion : these results confirm previous findings and indicate that the change from DSM-III-R to DSM-IV results in minimal changes in case identific ation and provides support for diagnostic continuity between the two c lassification systems.