Date of Award:
5-2003
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Psychology
Committee Chair(s)
Gretchen A. Gimpel
Committee
Gretchen A. Gimpel
Committee
Susan Crowley
Committee
Donna Gilbertson
Abstract
This study investigated whether psychologists are attempting to distinguish between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression in youth. Findings indicate that, overall, clinicians are conducting comprehensive evaluations and considering ADHD and depression as likely diagnoses. Clinicians were more likely to use self-report depression measures if the client was female or adolescent than if the child was male or school age; however, they were equally likely to incorporate ADHD-related measures with males and females, and 8 year olds and 15 year olds. Clinicians were more likely to consider adolescents than school-age children and females than males to have a mood disorder. Doctoral-level clinicians were more likely to consider a mood disorder and ADHD than master's-level clinicians. Clinicians who had completed a child psychopathology course were more likely to consider ADHD than those who had not completed such a course. The implications of these findings for child-oriented clinicians are discussed.
Checksum
09607b848e8cafd94467a784c4bcf35d
Recommended Citation
Berglof, Hollie K., "Differential Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Depression: Potential Bias and Misdiagnosis" (2003). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 6189.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6189
Included in
Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .