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Academic underachievement (AU) was studied among 177 clinic-referred boys reliably diagnosed as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or conduct disorder (CD). Unlike previous studies, the present study assessed AU using a formula that determined while discrepancy between a child's predicted level of achievement and actual level of achievement while controlling for regression and age effects. AU was associated with both ADHD and CD when the disorders were examined individually. However, when examined in multivariate logit model analyses, the apparent relation between CD and AU was found to be due to its comorbidity with ADHD. When boys with ADHD were divided into those with attention deficits only and those with co-occurring hyperactivity, findings did not support the hypothesis that the association with AU is stronger for attention deficits without co-occurring hyperactivity.

Early motherhood (

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is characterized by behavioral symptoms reflecting slowness and lethargy (e.g., sluggishness, appearing sleepy) and inconsistent alertness/mental confusion (e.g., daydreaming, fogginess). SCT is substantially correlated with the inattentive symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and may be part of that domain, but in cross-sectional data, SCT is also strongly associated with both inattention and depression. To date, no study has examined the prospective associations of SCT symptoms in childhood/adolescence with symptoms of ADHD and internalizing problems in adulthood. Using a sample of 449 twin children and adolescent pairs, prospective multiple regression analyses examined whether self- and parent-reported SCT, depression, and parent-reported symptoms of ADHD predicted symptoms in adulthood 12 years later. SCT and depression at time one were strongly correlated (self-reported SCT and depression r = 0.84; parent-reported SCT and depression r = 0.78). When adult outcomes were separately regressed on each youth symptom dimension, self-reported SCT (β = 0.26, p < 0.0001) and depression (β = 0.13, p < 0.0001) each predicted adult symptoms of depression and self-reported SCT predicted inattention (β = 0.12, p = 0.0026). Parent-reported depression, but not parent-reported SCT, predicted self-reported adult depression symptoms (β = 0.17, p = 0.0003). In contrast, when each adult outcome was regressed simultaneously on youth self-reported SCT and depression, neither predicted adulthood inattention or depression. These findings indicate that SCT in childhood and adolescence is strongly associated concurrently and predictively with both inattention and depression. Theoretical and clinical applications of the construct of SCT must take its robust association with both inattention and depression into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric disorders show phenotypic as well as genetic overlaps. There are however also marked developmental changes throughout childhood. We investigated the extent to which, for a full range of early childhood psychopathology, a general "p" factor was explained by genetic liability, as indexed by multiple different psychiatric polygenic risk scores (PRS) and whether these relationships altered with age. The sample was a UK, prospective, population-based cohort with psychopathology data at age 7 (N = 8161) and age 13 (N = 7017). PRS were generated from large published genome-wide association studies. At both ages, we found evidence for a childhood "p" factor as well as for specific factors. Schizophrenia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) PRS were associated with this general "p" factor at both ages but depression and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) PRS were not. We also found some evidence of associations between schizophrenia, ADHD and depression PRS with specific factors, but these were less robust and there was evidence for developmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on subtypes of learning disabilities (LD) is reviewed and the importance of targeting specific deficits in attending behavior, impulsivity, and hyperactivity is noted. A protocol for the behavioral assessment of LD is suggested, and examples of molar as well as molecular interventions are cited. (CL)

Compared eight lower socioeconomic status abusive mothers with eight matched controls and eight middle class controls on three measures of emotional and somatic distress. Abusive mothers showed far greater depression and physical distress than controls and used more physical punishment. (BH)

A factor analysis of a revised and expanded 102-item version of the Children's Behavior Scale (CBRS) was conducted to complete development of this teacher rating scale. Results confirmed previous research on the CBRS that indicated that two independent dimensions of cognitive deficits can be identified in teacher ratings. (Author/LMO)

Mothers (N=61) of children referred for psychological treatment completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test, and Conners Parent Rating Scale; teachers also completed the Conners Teacher Rating Scale. Mothers' ratings were significantly correlated with teachers' ratings, but fathers' were not. Findings confirm a relation of maternal depression to maternal perception of child behavior problems. (Author/MCF)

The reactivity of normal preschool children's peer praising behavior to observer presence was investigated during baseline and intervention conditions. Evaluation of an intervention package designed to increase peer praising suggested reactivity to observation during intervention. Results have implications for evaluation of internal validity of similar studies. (Author/DB)

Administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to biological mothers of children aged 6-13 (N=100). Found conduct disordered (CD) children (N=13) had mothers with higher MMPI antisocial, histrionic, and disturbed adjustment scores; attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD/H) children (N=22) had no significant association with maternal MMPI elevations. Results suggest CD but not ADD/H linked to maternal personality disorder. (Author/CM)

The learning disabled children did not differ from their reading level controls on any of 10 measures but showed a pattern of eye movements that was generally slower and less smooth than their grade placement controls. (Author)

Findings of this study argue against the existence of a separate diagnostic category of hyperactivity. Hyperactivity and conduct-problem scales should be combined for purposes of rating child behavior problems. A category of "attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity" should be considered as a separate rating scale factor. (Author/CS)