Association between childhood dimensions of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and adulthood clinical severity of bipolar disorders

Background: Clinical features of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be frequently observed in cases with bipolar disorders and associated with greater severity of bipolar disorders. Although designed as a screening tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the Wender Utah Rating Scale could, given its factorial structure, be useful in investigating the early history of impulsive, inattentive or mood-related symptoms among patients with bipolar disorders. Methods: We rated the Wender Utah Rating Scale in 276 adult bipolar disorder cases and 228 healthy controls and tested its factorial structure and any associations with bipolar disorder phenomenology. Results: We confirmed a three-factor structure for the Wender Utah Rating Scale (‘impulsivity/temper’, ‘inattentiveness’ and ‘mood/self-esteem’). Cases and controls differed significantly on Wender Utah Rating Scale total score and sub-scale scores (p-values