OBJECTIVE: To examine the specificity of deficits in focused attention and sustained attention in adults with ADHD and to evaluate the effect of comorbidity. METHOD: Twenty-eight adults with ADHD without comorbidity were compared with 28 ADHD outpatients with comorbidity. Two control groups were used: 68 adults referred for ADHD but with another psychopathology rather than ADHD (non-ADHD) and 28 healthy controls. All participants completed attention tests of the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks program. RESULTS: Both ADHD groups demonstrated a sustained attention deficit relative to the control groups, as indicated by a disproportionate deterioration of speed fluctuation with time-on-task reflecting temporal lapses in attention. Only the ADHD+ group showed focused attention deficits in that they were less able to ignore irrelevant information. CONCLUSION: These findings show that adults with ADHD have specific deficits in sustained attention. Additional deficits in focused attention are confined to outpatients with ADHD and comorbidity.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the specificity of deficits in focused attention and sustained attention in adults with ADHD and to evaluate the effect of comorbidity. METHOD: Twenty-eight adults with ADHD without comorbidity were compared with 28 ADHD outpatients with comorbidity. Two control groups were used: 68 adults referred for ADHD but with another psychopathology rather than ADHD (non-ADHD) and 28 healthy controls. All participants completed attention tests of the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks program. RESULTS: Both ADHD groups demonstrated a sustained attention deficit relative to the control groups, as indicated by a disproportionate deterioration of speed fluctuation with time-on-task reflecting temporal lapses in attention. Only the ADHD+ group showed focused attention deficits in that they were less able to ignore irrelevant information. CONCLUSION: These findings show that adults with ADHD have specific deficits in sustained attention. Additional deficits in focused attention are confined to outpatients with ADHD and comorbidity.
Authors: Anselm B M Fuermaier; Lara Tucha; Nana Guo; Christian Mette; Bernhard W Müller; Norbert Scherbaum; Oliver Tucha Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-25 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Jojanneke A Bastiaansen; Tarrant D R Cummins; Harriëtte Riese; Arie M van Roon; Ilja M Nolte; Albertine J Oldehinkel; Mark A Bellgrove Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-05-15 Impact factor: 3.240