OBJECTIVE: To examine prospectively usefulness of Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4) in identifying attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD). METHOD: A sample of children <6 years of age were evaluated in school settings with ECI-4 and results compared with those of Conners Rating Scales-Revised (CRS-R) 6 months later. Sample consisted of 34 healthy children (20 boys, 14 girls) prospectively followed-up. RESULTS: Frequency of children fulfill DSM-IV AD-HD criteria in ECI-4 parent scale was 17%, and in teacher scale was 32%. Frequency of children fulfill DSM-IV AD-HD criteria in parent CRS-R was 20%, and for teacher questionnaire was 23%. Correlations were significant among teacher ECI-4 and both teacher and parent CRS-R scales. Sensitivity and specificity of teacher and parent ECI-4 scales were not good. Frequency of ODD identified in parent ECI-4 scale was 5%, and for teacher 17%. Frequency of ODD in CRS-R for parents and teachers questionnaires was 17%. CD was not identified by parents in ECI-4 scale, but in teacher scale frequency was 14%. CONCLUSION: These facts support partially the use of ECI-4 screening of ADHD in Spanish-speaking preschool children.
preschool children; hyperactive children; disruptive behavior; screening
