Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T17:06:34.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Neuropsychological Weaknesses in Adult ADHD; Cognitive Functions as Core Deficit and Roles of Them in Persistence to Adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2012

Ozan Pazvantoğlu ,
Arzu Alptekin Aker ,
Koray Karabekiroğlu ,
Seher Akbaş ,
Gökhan Sarısoy ,
Saliha Baykal ,
Işıl Zabun Korkmaz ,
Emel Alkan Pazvantoğlu ,
Ömer Böke  and
Ahmet Rifat Şahin
Ozan Pazvantoğlu*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Arzu Alptekin Aker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Koray Karabekiroğlu
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Seher Akbaş
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Gökhan Sarısoy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Saliha Baykal
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Işıl Zabun Korkmaz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Emel Alkan Pazvantoğlu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Mental Health Hospital, Samsun, Turkey
Ömer Böke
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
Ahmet Rifat Şahin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Ondokuz Mayis University, School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Ozan Pazvantoglu, Ondokuz Mayis Üniversitesi Hastanesi, Psikiyatri Polikliniği, 55139, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Prior investigations have shown that individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have impaired neuropsychological functions. This study had two aims, first to investigate weakened cognitive functions in adult ADHD (aADHD), and second, to investigate difference between persisters (those having persistently ongoing ADHD diagnosis in adulthood), and remitters (those having ADHD diagnosis only in childhood and not in adulthood), in terms of cognitive deficits. We evaluated performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery in three groups including 34 persisters, 35 remitters, and 35 healthy control group (absence of childhood and adulthood ADHD diagnosis). Our findings showed that adults with ADHD have inefficient attention, interference control and set-shifting functions, which may be revealed on neuropsychological tests that require greater cognitive demand. Given the finding that interference control deficit exists across the lifespan in people with ADHD, we suggest that interference control-associated functional weakness may be a core deficit for ADHD. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–8)

Keywords

ADHDNeuropsychological impairmentInterference controlCore deficitAdult
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 18 , Issue 5 , September 2012 , pp. 819 - 826
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aycicegi, A., Dinn, W.M., Harris, C.L. (2003). Assessing adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A Turkish version of the current symptoms scale. Psychopathology, 36, 160–167.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barkley, R.A. (1997). Inhibition, sustained attention, and executive functions: Constructing a unifying theory of ADHD. Psychological Bulletin, 121, 65–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barkley, R.A., Brown, T.E. (2008). Unrecognized attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults presenting with other psychiatric disorders. CNS Spectrum, 13, 977–984.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K.R. (1998). Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Clinical Workbook. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Barkley, R.A., Murphy, K.R., Fischer, M. (2008). Identifying new symptoms for ADHD in adulthood. In: ADHD in adults: What the science tells us. New York: Guild Press.Google Scholar
Biederman, J., Mick, E., Faraone, S.V. (2000). Age dependent decline of ADHD symptoms revisited: Impact of remission definition and symptom subtype. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 816–818.Google Scholar
Boonstra, A.M., Kooij, J.J., Oosterlaan, J., Sergeant, J.A., Buitelaar, J.K. (2010). To act or not to act, that's the problem: Primarily inhibition difficulties in adult ADHD. Neuropsychology, 24, 209–221.Google Scholar
Boonstra, A.M., Oosterlanaan, J., Sergeant, J.A., Buitelaar, J.K. (2005). Executive functioning in adult ADHD: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Medicine, 35, 1097–1108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, T.E. (2006). Executive functions and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Implications of two conflicting views. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 53, 35–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, L.A., Nigg, J.T., Henderson, J.M. (2006). Attentional versus motor inhibition in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Neuropsychology, 20, 430–441.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crawford, J.R., Allan, K.M., Jack, A.M. (1992). Short-forms of the UK WAIS-R: Regression equations and their predictive validity in a general population sample. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 31, 191–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delongis, D. (1991). Continuous performance test. Santa Anita, CA: Wang Laboratories.Google Scholar
Doğan, S., Öncü, B., Saraçoğlu, G.V., Küçükgöncü, S. (2009). Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder self-report scale (ASRS-v1.1): The validity and reliability of Turkish version. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 10, 77–87.Google Scholar
Epstein, J.N., Conners, C.K., Sitarenios, G., Erhardt, D. (1998). Continuous performance test results of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 12, 155–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fischer, M., Barkley, R.A., Smallish, L., Fletcher, K. (2005). Executive functioning in hyperactive children as young adults: Attention, inhibition, response perseveration and the impact of comorbidity. Developmental Neuropsychology, 27, 107–133.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halperin, J.M., Schulz, K.P. (2006). Revisiting the role of the prefrontal cortex in the pathophysiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 560–581.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halperin, J.M., Trampush, J.W., Miller, C.J., Marks, D.J., Newcorn, J.H. (2008). Neuropsychological outcome in adolescents/ young adults with childhood ADHD: Profiles of persisters, remitters and controls. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 958–966.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hervey, A.S., Epstein, J., Curry, J.F. (2004). The neuropsychology of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analytic review. Neuropsychology, 18, 485–503.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karakaş, S. (2004). The manual of BILNOT battery: The research and development studies for neuropsychological tests. Ankara: Dizayn Ofset.Google Scholar
Kessler, R.C., Adler, L., Ames, M., Delmer, O., Faraone, S., Hiripi, E., Walters, E.E. (2005a). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): A short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 35, 245–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kessler, R.C., Adler, L.A., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., Conners, C.K., Faraone, S.V., Zaslavsky, A.M. (2005b). Patterns and predictors of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder persistence into adulthood: Results from the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 57, 1442–1451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marchetta, N.D., Hurks, P.P., Krabbendam, L., Jolles, J. (2008). Interference control, working memory, concept shifting and verbal fluency in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Neuropsychology, 22, 74–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mesulam, M.M. (1985). Principles of behavioral neurology. Philadelphia: FA Davis Company.Google Scholar
Öncu, B., Günay, Ş., Şentürk, V. (2005). Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Wender Utah Rating Scale for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 16, 252–259.Google Scholar
Pennington, B.F., Ozonoff, S. (1996). Executive functions and developmental psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 37, 51–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reitan, R.M., Wolfson, D. (1985). The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. Tucson: Neuropsychology Press.Google Scholar
Rosvold, H.E., Mirsky, A.F., Sarason, I., Bransome, E.D., Beck, L.H. (1956). A continuous performance test of brain damage. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 20, 343–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schoechlin, C., Engel, R.R. (2005). Neuropsychological performance in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Meta-analysis of empirical data. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 20, 727–744.Google Scholar
Seidman, L.J. (2006). Neuropsychological functioning in people with ADHD across the lifespan. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 466–485.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spreen, O., Benton, A.L. (1977). The Neurosensory Center comprehensive examination for aphasia. Victoria: Neuropsychology Laboratory.Google Scholar
Strauss, E., Sherman, E.M.S., Spreen, O. (2006). A compendium of neuropsychological tests: Administration, norms, and commentary (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Stroop, J.R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643–662.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Mourik, R., Oosterlaan, J., Sergeant, J.A. (2005). The Stroop revisited: A meta-analysis of interference control in AD/HD. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 150–165.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ward, M.F., Wender, P.H., Reimherr, F.W. (1993). The Wender Utah rating scale: An aid in the retrospective diagnosis of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 885–890.Google ScholarPubMed
Woods, S.P., Lovejoy, D.W., Stutts, M.L., Ball, J.D., Fals-Stewart, W. (2002). Comparative efficiency of a discrepancy analysis for the classification of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 17, 351–369.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, S., Bramham, J. (2007). ADHD in Adults. A psychological guide to practice. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Google Scholar
Young, S., Gudjonsson, G.H. (2005). Neuropsychological correlates of the YAQ-S and YAQ-I self- and informant-reported ADHD symptomatology, emotional and social problems and delinquent behaviour. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44, 47–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed