Factor structure of the restricted academic situation scale: implications for ADHD

Sherif Karama; Leila Ben Amor; Natalie Grizenko; Antonio Ciampi; Valentin Mbekou; Marina Ter-Stepanian; Philippe Lageix; Chantal Baron; George Schwartz; Ridha Joober

doi:10.1177/1087054708314605

Factor structure of the restricted academic situation scale: implications for ADHD

J Atten Disord. 2009 Mar;12(5):442-8. doi: 10.1177/1087054708314605. Epub 2008 Jul 29.

Authors

Sherif Karama¹, Leila Ben Amor, Natalie Grizenko, Antonio Ciampi, Valentin Mbekou, Marina Ter-Stepanian, Philippe Lageix, Chantal Baron, George Schwartz, Ridha Joober

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Canada.

PMID: 18664712
DOI: 10.1177/1087054708314605

Abstract

Background: To study the factor structure of the Restricted Academic Situation Scale (RASS), a psychometric tool used to assess behavior in children with ADHD, 117 boys and 21 girls meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) criteria for ADHD and aged between 6 and 12 years were recruited. Assessments were carried out before and 65 min after the administration of either a placebo or 0.25 mg/kg of methylphenidate. Placebo and methylphenidate were each administered according to a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design.

Results: Principal component analysis, followed by a confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis, revealed two main factors for the RASS, task disengagement (TD) and motor activation (MA). Only TD was inversely correlated with age, indicating that TD and MA may be differentially modulated during development.

Conclusions: MA and TD are distinct traits of ADHD. It may be important to consider them separately when conducting studies on ADHD.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / drug therapy
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / psychology
Central Nervous System Stimulants / administration & dosage
Conduct Disorder / diagnosis
Conduct Disorder / drug therapy
Conduct Disorder / psychology
Cross-Over Studies
Double-Blind Method
Drug Administration Schedule
Education, Special
Humans
Internal-External Control
Likelihood Functions
Methylphenidate / administration & dosage
Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
Principal Component Analysis
Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
Reproducibility of Results

Substances

Central Nervous System Stimulants
Methylphenidate