The impact of DSM-5 on the diagnosis of learningdisorder in ADHD children and adolescents: a prevalence study

Prevalence studies on learning disabilities (LD) in children and adolescents with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show inconclusive results, despite the frequent comorbidity between these syndromes. This article describes and analyzes the prevalence of LD in a referred sample of 270 children and adolescents with ADHD treated at Disorders Program of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity / Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (PRODAH/HCPA-UFRGS), according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). The prevalence of LD among the sample was of 46.7%. In that group, the most common LD was the Written Expression Disorder (32.6%). The impact of the changes in the diagnostic criteria for LD proposed by the DSM-5 in the prevalence of these disorders is discussed. Although changes will occur in the rates of LD prevalence, the impact of the DSM-5 on the prevalence, specificity and comorbidity of LD remains uncertain, as there are some proposed changes that will broaden the scope of the criteria and others that will reduce it.

ADHD; learning disorders; comorbidity; diagnosis; DSM-5