Neuropsychological characteristics of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo
Zhao-Min Wu, Juan Liu, Peng Wang, Yufeng Wang, Binrang Yang
Abstract
Objective: The present study aims to explore the neuropsychological features of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT). Methods: Fifty-eight children with ADHD+SCT, 480 children with ADHD-SCT, and 105 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Neuropsychological tests and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were used. Results: The ADHD+SCT group performed worse than the HC in processing speed ( p = .005), set-shifting ( p = .0003), interference control ( p = .00014), and visual memory ( p = .007), while the ADHD-SCT group performed worse than the HC in sustained attention measurements (all p < .0001). The ADHD+SCT group scored higher than the ADHD-SCT group in the following factors from BRIEF: plan/organize ( p = .00083), working memory ( p < .001), and shift ( p = .0054). Conclusion: Our results indicated that SCT symptoms are associated with worse executive function in children with ADHD except for sustained attention.