The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
BackgroundThe study delves into the intricate task of differentiating intellectual structures among children diagnosed with the high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF-ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or comorbidity (ASD+ADHD), aiming to assist in their clinical different...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1610278/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849405527543513088 |
|---|---|
| author | Dan-Yang Zhang Qiu-Hong Wei Bin-Yue Hu Dan Ai Yu Zhang Yuan Ding Ting Yang Jie Chen Li Chen Yuan Wu Hong-Yu Chen Xue-Li Xiang Qiu-Hong Mou Ting-Yu Li |
| author_facet | Dan-Yang Zhang Qiu-Hong Wei Bin-Yue Hu Dan Ai Yu Zhang Yuan Ding Ting Yang Jie Chen Li Chen Yuan Wu Hong-Yu Chen Xue-Li Xiang Qiu-Hong Mou Ting-Yu Li |
| author_sort | Dan-Yang Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe study delves into the intricate task of differentiating intellectual structures among children diagnosed with the high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF-ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or comorbidity (ASD+ADHD), aiming to assist in their clinical differentiation, with the goal of refining clinical diagnoses and developing targeted therapeutic interventions.MethodsThe study included 200 outpatients aged 6.5–13.0 years (total Intelligence Quotient (IQ) 70–130) at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, and categorized into HF-ASD (n=91), ADHD (n=47), and comorbidity ASD+ADHD (n=62) groups. We utilized the Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) as the primary assessment tool, supplemented by additional diagnostic measures. Besides, we used SPSS 25.0 to assess the subtest scores and differences.ResultsThe comorbidity group had lower total IQ than the other two groups (p<0.001). The verbal IQ(VIQ) were lower than the performance IQ(PIQ) in HF-ASD (p=0.017) and comorbidity (p=0.007) groups. They also scored higher on perceptual organization subtests particularly in Block Design and Object Assembly than the ADHD group. The ADHD group showed higher VIQ than PIQ (p=0.020). The ADHD group’s scores for working memory subtests were lower than in the HF-ASD group. The respective peak scores for the HF-ASD and comorbidity groups were in Block Design (45%,43%) and Object Assembly (30%,37%) and valleys in Picture Completion (52%,24%), Information (HF-ASD 24%), and Arithmetic (comorbidity 42%).ConclusionThe peak-valley difference in the ADHD group (~2 standard deviations) was smaller than in the HF-ASD and comorbidity groups (~3 standard deviations), and this characteristic could help differentiate between HF-ASD, ADHD, and both together. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b5fd862830b64bc8bf70ec46f9ac3dfe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-b5fd862830b64bc8bf70ec46f9ac3dfe2025-08-20T03:36:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-08-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.16102781610278The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorderDan-Yang Zhang0Qiu-Hong Wei1Bin-Yue Hu2Dan Ai3Yu Zhang4Yuan Ding5Ting Yang6Jie Chen7Li Chen8Yuan Wu9Hong-Yu Chen10Xue-Li Xiang11Qiu-Hong Mou12Ting-Yu Li13Children Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Primary Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Primary Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Primary Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaChildren Nutrition Research Center, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, ChinaBackgroundThe study delves into the intricate task of differentiating intellectual structures among children diagnosed with the high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HF-ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or comorbidity (ASD+ADHD), aiming to assist in their clinical differentiation, with the goal of refining clinical diagnoses and developing targeted therapeutic interventions.MethodsThe study included 200 outpatients aged 6.5–13.0 years (total Intelligence Quotient (IQ) 70–130) at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, and categorized into HF-ASD (n=91), ADHD (n=47), and comorbidity ASD+ADHD (n=62) groups. We utilized the Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) as the primary assessment tool, supplemented by additional diagnostic measures. Besides, we used SPSS 25.0 to assess the subtest scores and differences.ResultsThe comorbidity group had lower total IQ than the other two groups (p<0.001). The verbal IQ(VIQ) were lower than the performance IQ(PIQ) in HF-ASD (p=0.017) and comorbidity (p=0.007) groups. They also scored higher on perceptual organization subtests particularly in Block Design and Object Assembly than the ADHD group. The ADHD group showed higher VIQ than PIQ (p=0.020). The ADHD group’s scores for working memory subtests were lower than in the HF-ASD group. The respective peak scores for the HF-ASD and comorbidity groups were in Block Design (45%,43%) and Object Assembly (30%,37%) and valleys in Picture Completion (52%,24%), Information (HF-ASD 24%), and Arithmetic (comorbidity 42%).ConclusionThe peak-valley difference in the ADHD group (~2 standard deviations) was smaller than in the HF-ASD and comorbidity groups (~3 standard deviations), and this characteristic could help differentiate between HF-ASD, ADHD, and both together.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1610278/fullautism spectrum disorderattention deficit hyperactivity disorderWechsler intelligence scale of children (C-WISC)intellectual structurescomorbidity |
| spellingShingle | Dan-Yang Zhang Qiu-Hong Wei Bin-Yue Hu Dan Ai Yu Zhang Yuan Ding Ting Yang Jie Chen Li Chen Yuan Wu Hong-Yu Chen Xue-Li Xiang Qiu-Hong Mou Ting-Yu Li The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Frontiers in Psychiatry autism spectrum disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Wechsler intelligence scale of children (C-WISC) intellectual structures comorbidity |
| title | The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| title_full | The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| title_fullStr | The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| title_short | The value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| title_sort | value of intellectual structural imbalance in the differentiation of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
| topic | autism spectrum disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Wechsler intelligence scale of children (C-WISC) intellectual structures comorbidity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1610278/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danyangzhang thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT qiuhongwei thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT binyuehu thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT danai thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT yuzhang thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT yuanding thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT tingyang thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT jiechen thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT lichen thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT yuanwu thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT hongyuchen thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT xuelixiang thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT qiuhongmou thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT tingyuli thevalueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT danyangzhang valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT qiuhongwei valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT binyuehu valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT danai valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT yuzhang valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT yuanding valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT tingyang valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT jiechen valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT lichen valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT yuanwu valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT hongyuchen valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT xuelixiang valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT qiuhongmou valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder AT tingyuli valueofintellectualstructuralimbalanceinthedifferentiationofautismspectrumdisorderandattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder |