Research article summary (published 30 Oct 2003):

Do executive deficits and delay aversion make independent contributions to preschool attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms?

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test whether deficits in executive function and delay aversion make independent contributions to levels of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms exhibited by preschool children. METHOD: One hundred fifty-six children between 3 and 5.5 years old (78 girls and 78 boys) selected from the community completed an age-appropriate battery of tests measuring working memory, set shifting, planning, delay of gratification, and preference for delayed rewards. Parents completed a clinical interview about their children's ADHD symptoms. RESULTS: Analysis of test performance revealed two factors: executive dysfunction and delay aversion. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that when other factors (i.e., age, IQ, and conduct problems) were controlled, executive dysfunction and delay aversion each made significant independent contributions to predictions of ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool ADHD symptoms are psychologically heterogeneous. Executive dysfunction and delay aversion may represent two distinct and early appearing neurodevelopmental bases for ADHD symptoms.

Author information

Author/s: Sonuga-Barke, Edmund J S (EJ); Dalen, Lindy (L); Remington, Bob (B);

Affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. ejb3(-atsign-)soton.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Nov; vol 42 (issue 11) : pp 1335-42

Dates: Created 2003/10/20; Completed 2003/12/09; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 14566171, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; epidemiology Child, Preschool Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Female

Female Humans Male Neuropsychological Tests Severity of Illness Index

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