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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

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01-03-2019 | Original Article

Parent–clinician agreement in rating the presence and severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms

Authors: Ellen Nobel, J. Agnes Brunnekreef, Russell J. Schachar, Barbara J. van den Hoofdakker, Pieter J. Hoekstra

Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

We determined the validity of a parent-report questionnaire as a research tool for rating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Using Cohen’s kappa and Pearson correlation, we examined the agreement between parent reports of ADHD symptoms (using the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire-IV; SNAP-IV) and clinical judgment (using a semi-structured parent interview). Also, we explored factors that may be associated with the level of agreement, using regression analyses. We found moderate levels of agreement for severity of overall ADHD (r = 0.43) and for hyperactive-impulsive symptoms (r = 0.54), but no significant agreement for inattentive symptoms. On individual symptom level (range kappa = − 0.05–0.22) and for the presence/absence of ADHD (kappa = 0.14), agreement was poor. Therefore, we conclude that parent-report questionnaires may be acceptable to rate the overall severity of ADHD symptoms in treatment effect studies, but not to detect the presence of ADHD in epidemiological studies.

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Title: Parent–clinician agreement in rating the presence and severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms
Authors: Ellen Nobel
J. Agnes Brunnekreef
Russell J. Schachar
Barbara J. van den Hoofdakker
Pieter J. Hoekstra
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1866-6116
Electronic ISSN: 1866-6647
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-018-0267-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

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Parent–clinician agreement in rating the presence and severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

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