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ADHD traits in schoolchildren: the symptom structure, the impairment threshold, and potential advantages
2020.09.17 |
| Date | Fri 02 Oct |
| Time | 13:00 — 15:00 |
| Location | Auditorium J116-113, Entrance J, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 175, DK-8200 Aarhus N |
Friday 2 October at 13:00, Trine Wigh Arildskov defends her PhD dissertation entitled “An investigation of the factorial structure, the impairment threshold, and potential advantages of ADHD traits in schoolchildren”.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed based on a specified number of symptoms within the core symptom dimensions of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, with the additional requirement that the symptoms must cause functional impairment.
The diagnostic importance attached to and the number of core symptom dimensions have changed and varied with the revisions of the diagnostic manuals. Also, there is no clear-cut agreement in the research literature regarding the underlying symptom structure of ADHD. Furthermore, studies suggest that ADHD symptoms are prevalent in varying severity degrees in the population – from the complete absence of symptoms towards mild, moderate, and severe levels. However, it still remains to be investigated whether this “fluid boundary” also applies to how symptom severity and functional impairment are related or whether there is some kind of qualitative increase in impairment levels when reaching a certain symptom severity level. Finally, while ADHD symptoms may be associated with functional impairment in different situations, it is also possible that they may convey adaptive advantages in other situations under certain conditions – a natural selection-based hypothesis yet to be tested in a behavioral study.
The underlying structure of ADHD symptoms and the relationship with impairment and potential advantages of these symptoms under specific conditions were investigated through a large survey of parents of 2,044 schoolchildren (1st to 3rd grade) and through an assessment of about 200 of these schoolchildren.
The summary is written by the PhD student.
The defence is public and will be held at Auditorium J116-113, Entrance J, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 175, DK-8200 Aarhus N. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are limits to physical attendance. Please read the attached press release for more information about physical or online attendance.
PhD student Trine Wigh Arildskov
Mail: trine.wigh.arildskov@ps.rm.dk
Tel.: (+45) 21622417