The Preschool
Study is a 15-year study of the diagnostic criteria for
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The study began in
1995 with 140 four to six year olds in Pittsburgh, PA and another
120 4-6 year olds in Chicago, IL.
Approximately ˝ of the children
had been diagnosed with ADHD or were suspected of having the
disorder.
The original purpose of the study was to determine if ADHD could be
accurately diagnosed at an age when it is “normal”
for children to
be hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive. We also wanted to see if
the ADHD subtype diagnoses -
Inattentive Subtype,
Hyperactive-Impulsive Subtype, and Combined Subtype - are stable
over time. In other words,
would children continue to receive the
same diagnosis year after year and would children who were
originally diagnosed
at this young age continue to meet criteria for
ADHD as they got older? The study also aims to learn more about the
types of difficulties that are associated with ADHD and how they
change as children become adolescents and approach
adulthood.
More than 95%
of the families continue to participate in annual assessments!
Adolescents, along with their mothers, are
continuing in the project
until they reach age 18.
For more information about this study, please contact Heidi Kipp,
M.Ed., L.P.C. at 412-246-5661 or
kipphl@upmc.edu or
Barbara Postol, M.S. at 412-246-5665 or
postolba@upmc.edu.
Return to Studies of the Youth and Family
Research Program
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