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Executive function in children with Tourette Syndrome and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2009

Emily L. Harris ,
Linda J. Schuerholz ,
Harvey S. Singer ,
Mark J. Reader ,
Janice E. Brown ,
Christiane Cox ,
Jennifer Mohr ,
Gary A. Chase  and
Martha B. Denckla
Emily L. Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Linda J. Schuerholz
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Harvey S. Singer
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Mark J. Reader
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Janice E. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Christiane Cox
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Jennifer Mohr
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Gary A. Chase
Affiliation:
Office of the Dean of Research and Graduate Education, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20009
Martha B. Denckla
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Cognitive Neurology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
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Abstract

Tourette Syndrome (TS) in children is associated with various neurobehavioral disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with TS and ADHD show some difficulties with neuropsychological tasks, but we do not know if children with TS alone have neuropsychological deficits. To assess specific cognitive differences among children with TS and/or ADHD, we administered a battery of neuropsychological tests, including 10 tasks related to executive function (EF), to 10 children with TS-only, 48 with ADHD-only, and 32 with TS+ADHD. Children in all groups could not efficiently produce output on a timed continuous performance task [Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) mean reaction time and reaction time variability]. Children with TS-only appeared to have fewer EF impairments and significantly higher perceptual organization scores than children with TS+ADHD or ADHD-only. These findings suggest that deficiencies in choice reaction time and consistency of timed responses are common to all three groups, but children with TS-only have relatively less EF impairment than children with TS+ADHD or ADHD-only. (JINS, 1995, 1, 511–516.)

Keywords

Tourette SyndromeAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderNeuropsychologyExecutive function
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 1 , Issue 6 , November 1995 , pp. 511 - 516
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 1995

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