Multimethod assessment of psychopathology among DSM-IV subtypes of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Self-, parent, and teacherreports

Using data based on self-, parent, and teacher reports, we assessed various aspects of psychopathology in a large sample of control children and those with ADHD. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to extract response b ias from latent constructs of aggression, anxiety, attention problems, depr ession, conduct disorder, and hyperactivity. These latent constructs were t hen entered into logistic regression equations to predict membership in con trol versus ADHD groups, and to discriminate between ADHD subtypes. Results of the regression equations showed that higher levels of attention problem s and aggression were the best predictors of membership in the ADHD group r elative to controls. Logistic regression also indicated that a higher degre e of aggression was the only significant predictor of membership in the ADH D-Combined group compared to the ADHD-Inattentive group. However, when como rbid diagnoses of Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder were c ontrolled for in the logistic regression, greater hyperactivity rather than aggression was the sole variable with which to distinguish the ADHD-Combin ed from the ADHD-Inattentive subtype. Results are discussed in the context of the DSM-IV ADHD nosology and the role of instrument and source bias in t he diagnosis of ADHD.