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Stability of executive function deficits into young adult years: a prospective longitudinal follow‐up study of grown up males with ADHD
Author(s) -
Biederman J.,
Petty C. R.,
Fried R.,
Doyle A. E.,
Spencer T.,
Seidman L. J.,
Gross L.,
Poetzl K.,
Faraone S. V.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01008.x
Subject(s) - psychology , vigilance (psychology) , categorization , executive functions , cognition , developmental psychology , working memory , predictive value , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , audiology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , neuroscience , philosophy , epistemology
Objective: Although individuals with attention deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) commonly exhibit deficits in executive functions that greatly increase the morbidity of the disorder, all available information on the subject is cross sectional. Method: Males ( n = 85) 9–22 years with ADHD followed over 7 years into young adulthood were assessed on measures of sustained attention/vigilance, planning and organization, response inhibition, set shifting and categorization, selective attention and visual scanning, verbal and visual learning, and memory. A binary definition of executive function deficits (EFDs) was defined based on a subject manifesting at least two abnormal tests 1.5 standard deviations from controls. Results: The majority of subjects maintained EFDs over time (kappa: 0.41, P < 0.001; sensitivity: 55%, specificity: 85%, positive predictive value: 69%, and negative predictive value: 75%). Conclusion: Considering the morbidity of EFDs, these findings stress the importance of their early recognition for prevention and early intervention strategies. EFDs are stable over time.