Richard D. Todd, Ph.D., M.D., Receives AACAP Elaine Schlosser Lewis Award For Research On Attention-Deficit Disorder

Main Category: ADHD
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 25 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The late Richard D. Todd, Ph.D., M.D., is the recipient of the 2008 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Elaine Schlosser Lewis Award for Research on Attention-Deficit Disorder. His paper, "Predictors of Stability of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Subtypes From Childhood to Young Adulthood," was selected as the best paper on ADHD published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry during the past year. Dr. Todd died in August of leukemia.

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 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for this personal recognition of me and of my colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and for the University's ongoing support of this and similar research."

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 Chicago on October 20, 2008 on Dr. Todd's behalf.

Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children's mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry