Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autistic features: EEG evidence for comorbid disorders

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is the most common psychiatric disorder of childhood, although AD/HD is rarely the only diagnosis given to these children. Within the literature there is some debate as to whether it is valid to diagnose AD/HD with autism as a comorbid disorder, since the present diagnostic systems exclude the diagnosis of both disorders in the same child. The aim of this study was to determine whether electroencephalography (EEG) differences exist between two groups of children diagnosed with AD/HD, one scoring high (AD/HD+) and one scoring low (AD/HD-) on a measure of autism. The EEG was recorded during an eyes-closed resting condition from 19 electrodes, and Fourier transformed to provide absolute and relative power estimates in delta, theta, alpha and beta bands. Compared to age- and sex-matched controls, the AD/HD- group had increased absolute power in all frequency bands, somewhat higher relative theta activity and decreased relative delta. In comparison to the AD/HD- group, patients with autistic features (AD/HD+) had a number of qualitative differences in the beta and theta bands. These results indicate the presence of two comorbid conditions in the AD/HD+ group, which suggests that AD/HD and autism can occur in the same individual.