An investigation of individual typologies of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder using cluster analysis of DSM-IV criteria

Pamela J. Marsh*, Leanne M. Williams

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Cluster analysis was used to investigate empirical typologies of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity traits and whether these traits would correspond to DSM-IV ADHD typologies. Parents rated 104 male and female children, aged 5 to 14.7 years, on a scale developed to operationalise DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria. Cluster analysis revealed four ADHD typologies with possible developmental changes in hyperactive-impulsive behavior as children mature as well as two 'normal' subgroups. Results indicated that DSM-IV defined ADHD characteristics where present in a cross section of individuals including nonpsychiatric controls. The structure of ADHD characteristics reflected the DSM-IV Combined and Inattentive types but failed to support a robust hyperactivity-impulsivity subgroup. Post hoc analysis suggested this may be a result of developmental factors; wherein hyperactivity-impulsivity traits decrease with age and inattention remains relatively stable. Cluster analysis also suggests that ADHD symptoms are normal personality traits that become pathological at relatively high levels.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1187-1195
    Number of pages9
    JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
    Volume36
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2004

    Keywords

    • ADHD
    • Cluster analysis
    • Typologies

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