The stability of dimensions of behavior in ADHD and normal children over an 8-year followup

The present study reports on standardized behavioral ratings received by a large sample of hyperactive children meeting research diagnostic criteria (n=108) and a community control sample of normal children (n=61) who were followed prospectively over 8 years into adolescence. On some parentreport measures both groups declined in the severity of their behavior problems across time, while on other measures only the hyperactive group declined, but the hyperactives always remained more deviant than the controls at followup. The hyperactives and controls also differed on most teacher and selfreport ratings at followup. The greatest degree of agreement between raters at adolescence was between parent and youth ratings. These results are consistent with previous research demonstrating more deviant scores for hyperactive children than controls on various rating scales at adolescent followup. They also are consistent with research showing significant longitudinal continuity of both internalizing and externalizing behavioral pathology.This research was supported by NIMH gram 42181. We are grateful to Craig S. Edelbrock, Ph.D., for his assistance with the data entry program, and to Ann Edwards and Gerry Gillespie for their assistance in locating subjects.