Richard D. Todd, Ph.D., M.D., Receives AACAP Elaine Schlosser Lewis Award For Research On Attention-Deficit Disorder
The late Richard D. Todd, Ph.D., M.D., is the recipient of the 2008
Dr. Todd's research included 708 twins between the ages of 7 and 19 who had participated in a study of ADHD five years earlier. It assessed how stable the diagnosis of ADHD is in this population. The study found that population-defined ADHD subtype criteria demonstrated modestly improved diagnostic stability over five years compared to DSM-IV subtypes. Few correlates or predictors of stability were identified.
In a written statement, Dr. Todd said, "A novel finding of these studies is the demonstration that non-DSM-IV ADHD subtypes are more stable over time, suggesting different formulations of current diagnostic criteria may warrant revision in DSM-V." Dr. Todd was selected as the award recipient by AACAP President Robert Hendren, D.O., President-Elect, Laurence Greenhill, M.D., and JAACAP Editor Andres Martin, M.D.
In a joint statement to be published in the December issue of the JAACAP, Drs. Hendren, Greenhill, and Martin state, "Dr. Todd and colleagues' study is the latest in a rich series of contributions harnessing the power of longitudinal population-based twin studies to inform nosology and classification efforts in child and adolescent psychiatry. Here, by diagnosing ADHD using population-based rather than DSM-based subtypes, the authors were able to increase diagnostic stability over five years." On receiving the award, Dr. Todd said, "I am indebted to the
Angela Reiersen, M.D., will present, "Predictors of Stability of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Subtypes from Childhood to Young Adulthood," at the AACAP Annual Meeting in