Evaluation of autistic symptoms in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder -Sample of Adıyaman province-

The aim of this study is to detect prevalence of autistic symptoms of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). The sample of this study included 51 children (42 males, 9 females) at 8-18 ages diagnosed with ADHD in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry Clinics of Adiyaman University Research and Education Hospital between 01/03/2016- 31/05/2016 and 58 controls (48 males, 10 females) without ADHD with similar age, sex, and education features. Data in this study was obtained using a sociodemographic data form which was developed in accordance with the literature and ABC. Continous variables which meet normal distribution criteria were analyzed using independent samples t test and which do not meet normal distribution criteria were analyzed using Mann Whitney U test. Chi square test was used for comparison of categorical variables. Results showed higher scores for children with ADHD in total ABC scale and all of its 5 subscales than children without ADHD (p<0.001). Rate of ADHD diagnosis in first degree relatives of children with ADHD was significantly higher than relatives of the control group (p<0.001). Another finding of the study was lower employment rate in the mothers of the ADHD children compared with the mothers of the control children (p=0.023). Keywords: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autistic symptoms, Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC).