BioMed Central Page 1 of 1 (page number not for citation purposes) Annals of General Psychiatry Open Access Poster presentation The clinical presentation of ADHD in adults with Learning Disability: experience from a National Specialist Adult ADHD clinic Stefanos Maltezos*, Jessica Bramham, Elena Paliokosta, Esther Rose and Kiriakos Xenitidis Address: Adult ADHD service, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK * Corresponding author Background There is growing evidence that ADHD is more common in children and adults with Learning Disabilities (LD) and that it can be successfully treated even if diagnosis can be difficult because of ‘diagnostic overshadowing’. This study provides empirical data about the ADHD symptoms in LD and non-LD populations. Materials and methods The sample consisted of 48 LD-ADHD (IQ< 80) adults compared to 221 ADHD non -LD (IQ>=80) adults. Symp- toms were evaluated using the informant-rated Barkley scale for childhood and adulthood behaviour. T-tests, paired samples t-tests and principal component analysis were conducted to investigate the pattern of symptoms for each group. Results The LD group differed significantly from the non LD group for a number of the current inattentive symptoms' ratings and presented also higher scores for all items dur- ing childhood, indicating greater severity of symptoms. For the non-LD group, most symptoms improved from childhood to adulthood. However, for the LD group, there was overall improvement as indicated by the total score, but no items showed significant change from childhood to adulthood. Principal component analysis for current symptoms in the LD revealed scattered loading of different items into five components to account for 73.98% of the variance for informants' ratings. These components were not consist- ent with the classic cluster of inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive symptoms as was the case for the non-LD group. Conclusions ADHD symptoms can be identified successfully in LD patients, however clinicians should be aware that the pattern of the clinical presentation can be different for this clinical population. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the multidisciplinary team of the Adult ADHD service for their assistance to the study. References 1. Aman MG, Armstrong S, Buican B, et al.: Four year follow-up of children with low intelligence and ADHD: a replication. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2002, 23:119-134. 2. Antshel K, Phillips M, Gordon M, et al.: Is ADHD a valid disorder in children with intellectual delays. Clinical Psychology Review 2006, 26:555-572. 3. Fee VE, Matson JL, Benawdez DA: Attention Deficit- Hyperactiv- ity Disorder Among Mentally Retarded Children. Research in Developmental Disabilities 1993, 15:67-79. from International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 3rd International Congress on Brain and Behaviour Thessaloniki, Greece. 28 November – 2 December 2007 Published: 17 April 2008 Annals of General Psychiatry 2008, 7(Suppl 1):S213 doi:10.1186/1744-859X-7-S1-S213 <supplement> <title> <p>International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 3rd International Congress on Brain and Behaviour</p> </title> <note>Meeting abstracts - A single PDF containing all abstracts in this Supplement is available <a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/files/pdf/1744-859X-7-S1-full.pdf">here</a>.</note> </supplement> This abstract is available from: http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/7/S1/S213 © 2008 Maltezos et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

The clinical presentation of ADHD in adults with Learning Disability: experience from a National Specialist Adult ADHD clinic

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Page 1: The clinical presentation of ADHD in adults with Learning Disability: experience from a National Specialist Adult ADHD clinic

BioMed Central

Page 1 of 1(page number not for citation purposes)

Annals of General Psychiatry

Open AccessPoster presentationThe clinical presentation of ADHD in adults with Learning Disability: experience from a National Specialist Adult ADHD clinicStefanos Maltezos*, Jessica Bramham, Elena Paliokosta, Esther Rose and Kiriakos Xenitidis

Address: Adult ADHD service, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK

* Corresponding author

BackgroundThere is growing evidence that ADHD is more common inchildren and adults with Learning Disabilities (LD) andthat it can be successfully treated even if diagnosis can bedifficult because of ‘diagnostic overshadowing’. This studyprovides empirical data about the ADHD symptoms in LDand non-LD populations.

Materials and methodsThe sample consisted of 48 LD-ADHD (IQ< 80) adultscompared to 221 ADHD non -LD (IQ>=80) adults. Symp-toms were evaluated using the informant-rated Barkleyscale for childhood and adulthood behaviour. T-tests,paired samples t-tests and principal component analysiswere conducted to investigate the pattern of symptoms foreach group.

ResultsThe LD group differed significantly from the non LDgroup for a number of the current inattentive symptoms'ratings and presented also higher scores for all items dur-ing childhood, indicating greater severity of symptoms.For the non-LD group, most symptoms improved fromchildhood to adulthood. However, for the LD group,there was overall improvement as indicated by the totalscore, but no items showed significant change from child-hood to adulthood.

Principal component analysis for current symptoms in theLD revealed scattered loading of different items into five

components to account for 73.98% of the variance forinformants' ratings. These components were not consist-ent with the classic cluster of inattentive, hyperactive andimpulsive symptoms as was the case for the non-LDgroup.

ConclusionsADHD symptoms can be identified successfully in LDpatients, however clinicians should be aware that the pat-tern of the clinical presentation can be different for thisclinical population.

AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to thank the multidisciplinary team of the Adult ADHD service for their assistance to the study.

References1. Aman MG, Armstrong S, Buican B, et al.: Four year follow-up of

children with low intelligence and ADHD: a replication.Research in Developmental Disabilities 2002, 23:119-134.

2. Antshel K, Phillips M, Gordon M, et al.: Is ADHD a valid disorderin children with intellectual delays. Clinical Psychology Review2006, 26:555-572.

3. Fee VE, Matson JL, Benawdez DA: Attention Deficit- Hyperactiv-ity Disorder Among Mentally Retarded Children. Research inDevelopmental Disabilities 1993, 15:67-79.

from International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 3rd International Congress on Brain and BehaviourThessaloniki, Greece. 28 November – 2 December 2007

Published: 17 April 2008

Annals of General Psychiatry 2008, 7(Suppl 1):S213 doi:10.1186/1744-859X-7-S1-S213

<supplement> <title> <p>International Society on Brain and Behaviour: 3rd International Congress on Brain and Behaviour</p> </title> <note>Meeting abstracts - A single PDF containing all abstracts in this Supplement is available <a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/files/pdf/1744-859X-7-S1-full.pdf">here</a>.</note> </supplement>

This abstract is available from: http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/7/S1/S213

http://www.annals-general-psychiatry.com/content/7/S1/S213

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16687197

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