Informativeness of maternal reports on the diagnosis of ADHD: An analysis of mother and youth reports

Objective: We evaluated correlates of the diagnosis of ADHD in youth by informant source. Method: Ninety-four pairs of mother reports and youth self-reports on ADHD were independently assessed, using diagnostic interviews from a large study of youth of both genders with and without ADHD. Comparisons were made on measures of interpersonal, school, and family functioning; treatment history; and parental psychopathology by informant source. Results: With the exception of higher rates of ADHD-associated impairment and higher frequency of treatment for ADHD in the combined youth-mother group. There were no other differences in any other clinical or familial correlates by informant source; both informant groups had higher levels of impairment in multiple nonoverlapping measures of dysfunction than controls. Males were overrepresented among the mother-only group. Conclusion: Maternal reports of ADHD result in a meaningful diagnosis of ADHD with high levels of impairment, regardless of endorsement by the affected youth.