WISC-IV profiles are associated with differences in symptomatology and outcome in children with ADHD

J Atten Disord. 2013 May;17(4):291-301. doi: 10.1177/1087054711428806. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

Abstract

Objective: The current study investigated the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) cluster profiles of children with ADHD to examine the association between IQ profiles and diagnostic frequency, symptomatology, and outcome in this population.

Method: Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted on 189 children with a diagnosis of ADHD-inattentive (ADHD-I) and ADHD-combined (ADHD-C) subtypes. Clusters were then compared across symptom rating scale factor scores, behavioral rating scales, and achievement scores.

Results: A five-cluster solution was extracted. One cluster was identified to have reduced processing speed relative to other WISC-IV indexes and significantly higher ratings of inattention and incidence of ADHD-I diagnosis. A second cluster had impairments in processing speed and working memory and was associated with impaired behavioral functioning.

Conclusion: Findings support a relationship between reduced processing speed and inattention and provide evidence that WISC-IV profiles may be helpful in predicting symptomatology and outcome in children with ADHD.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Child
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Psychometrics
  • Wechsler Scales