Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale and Epilepsy

Sensitivity of ADHD-IV Rating Scale in the Evaluation of the Evolution of Attention Disorders Associated With Childhood Epilepsy : a Validation Study

The cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities are crucial endpoints in epileptic patients. Among these comorbidities, the Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) accounts for one of the most important in terms of frequency and psychosocial and educational consequences.

In these conditions, our study was designed to estimate the sensitivity to changes of the different sub-scores of the ADHD rating Scale IV (ADHD RS IV) in epileptic patient. This will then optimize our methodological approach for a therapeutic trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children aged 6 to 15 years and 11 months;
• male or female;
• with a diagnosis of ADHD : predominantly inattentive or combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive according to the DSM IV criteria;
• children who agreed to participate to the protocol and whose legal representatives have clearly expressed their non-opposition to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients below 6 years old or patients older than 16 years;
• with a diagnosis of ADHD predominantly hyperactive-impulsive subtype ADHD according to the DSM IV criteria;
• mental retardation defined by a score < 70 at the verbal comprehension index and the perceptual reasoning score of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition (WISC-IV)
• established diagnosis of any psychiatric co-morbidity other than ADHD according to the DSM IV criteria (pervasive developmental disorders including autism, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder).