Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) profiles in children and adolescents from parent and teacher reports on the BASC

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is of one of the most widely researched and hotly debated diagnosis in the field of psychology and society. The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of ADHD children and adolescents using the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC); to determine if the Child profile was significantly different from the profile in the BASC manual; to subject the adolescent profile to cluster analysis; to develop a correlation between the parent and teacher report on the BASC and compare them to the BASC manual; and to analyze the data using Configural Frequency Analysis (CFA) for types and antitypes. Subjects (N = 241) were a children (ages 6 to 11) and adolescents (ages 12-18) with a diagnosis of ADHD. Hotelling's T² comparison of the study and BASC ADHD profiles yielded significant differences on the parent and teacher profiles and the BASC manual counterparts. The Adolescent profile was generated and cluster analysis indicated one-factor solution as most appropriate. Correlations on teacher and parent reports of children were in the low to moderate range with significant differences in correlations of attention compared to the BASC correlation. Correlations for the Adolescent teacher and parent report were in the low to very low range with a significant difference in hyperactivity and attention compared to the BASC correlation. Factor analysis supported to the BASC model with a three-factor solution for parents of children and adolescents and a four-factor solution on both groups for teachers. CFA yielded types appropriate to ADHD behavior. Results are discussed in terms of expansion of diagnostic criteria for practitioners working with ADHD children and adolescents.