Exploring ADHD age-of-onset criterion in Brazilian adolescents

Objective: To explore age-of-onset criterion for the diagnosis of attention -deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a school sample of young Brazilia n adolescents. Methods: 191 students aged 12 to 14 years were evaluated usi ng DSM-IV ADHD criteria, measures of ADHD symptoms and global impairment. R esults: Both adolescents with ADHD (n = 30) and adolescents who fulfilled a ll DSM-IV ADHD criteria, except age of onset of impairment criterion (ADHD w/o age-of-onset, n = 27) had significantly higher scores on Attention Prob lems, Delinquent and Aggressive Behavior scales of the Child Behavior Check list (CBCL) and lower scores on the Child Global Assessment scale (CGAS) th an non-ADHD adolescents (n = 134). Adolescents with ADHD and youths with AD HD w/o age-of-onset did not differ significantly in any measure assessed. C onclusion: These results concur with recent literature proposing revision o f the age-of-onset criterion for the diagnosis of ADHD.