Abstract: Objective: To investigate the features of attachment in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and of children with different clinical subtypes of ADHD. Methods: The Attachment Security Scale was used for 89 children with ADHD(DSM-Ⅳ criteria) and 150 normal children. Children with ADHD were divided into three groups: the ADHD-I group (n=47), the ADHD-H group (n=10) and the ADHD-C group(n=32). Results: Scores of mother-dependence, father-dependence, mother-intimacy, father-intimacy, mother-child attachment, and father-child attachment of the ADHD children were all lower than those of the controls(P＜0.01). In the three subtype groups, scores of mother-dependence and mother-child attachment in the ADHD-C group were lower than those in the ADHD-H group (P＜0.05). Scores of the father-dependence, father-intimacy, and father-child attachment in ADHD children were higher than mother-dependence, mother-intimacy, and mother-child attachment(P＜0.05). Conclusion: Attachment security of ADHD children is lower than that of the controls. The mother-child attachment security in the ADHD-C group is the worst. The father-child attachment security is lower than the mother-child attachment security in ADHD children.

Key words: Child, Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, Attachment