Correlations Between Clinical Trial Outcomes Based on Symptoms, Functional Impairments, and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents With ADHD

Objective: To assess relationships between treatment-associated changes in measures of ADHD symptoms, functional impairments, and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with ADHD. Method: Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated post hoc for changes from baseline to endpoint in outcomes of one randomized, placebo- and active-controlled trial of lisdexamfetamine (osmotic-release methylphenidate reference) and one of guanfacine extended-release (atomoxetine reference). Results: Changes in ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS-IV) total score generally correlated moderately with changes in Child Health and Illness Profile−Child Edition: Parent Report Form (CHIP-CE:PRF) Achievement and Risk Avoidance (r ≈ .4), but weakly with Resilience, Satisfaction, and Comfort (r ≈ .2); and moderately with Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale–Parent (WFIRS-P) total score (r ≈ .5). CHIP-CE:PRF Achievement and Risk Avoidance correlated moderately to strongly with WFIRS-P total score (r ≈ .6). Conclusion: The ADHD-RS-IV, CHIP-CE:PRF, and WFIRS-P capture distinct but interconnected aspects of treatment response in individuals with ADHD.