Muharrem Burak Baytunca1, Sevim Berrin Inci2, Melis Ipci3, Burcu Kardas4, Gul Unsel Bolat4, Eyup Sabri Ercan4. 1. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: baytunca@yahoo.com. 2. Ege University, Institute on Drug Abuse, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science, Izmir, Turkey. 3. Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. 4. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
Abstract
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) refers to a clinical construct including several symptoms such as sluggishness, absentmindedness, low energy. In the present study, we compared neurocognitive laboratory outcomes of ADHD children with or without SCT. METHOD: The CNS Vital Signs Battery was utilized to measure neurocognitive measure of the participants. The SCT+ADHD group comprised of 42 subjects, ADHD group was 41 subjects and control group was 24 subjects. RESULTS: The cognitive flexibility score was found to be more severely impaired in ADHD children with SCT in comparison to the ADHD-only. Additionally, greater deficits in the Shifting Attention Test (p = 0.014) and the Continuous Performance Test (reaction time score, p < 0.01) were found in the SCT+ADHD group relative to ADHD group. Processing speed, visual/auditory memory, psychomotor speed and reaction time were not found to more impaired in those comorbid with SCT. CONCLUSION: Impairments in the cognitive flexibility and more specifically shifting attention and continuous performance may be indicative of vigilance and orientation problems rather than executive functions for the SCT construct.
Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) refers to a clinical construct including several symptoms such as sluggishness, absentmindedness, low energy. In the present study, we compared neurocognitive laboratory outcomes of ADHDchildren with or without SCT. METHOD: The CNS Vital Signs Battery was utilized to measure neurocognitive measure of the participants. The SCT+ADHD group comprised of 42 subjects, ADHD group was 41 subjects and control group was 24 subjects. RESULTS: The cognitive flexibility score was found to be more severely impaired in ADHDchildren with SCT in comparison to the ADHD-only. Additionally, greater deficits in the Shifting Attention Test (p = 0.014) and the Continuous Performance Test (reaction time score, p < 0.01) were found in the SCT+ADHD group relative to ADHD group. Processing speed, visual/auditory memory, psychomotor speed and reaction time were not found to more impaired in those comorbid with SCT. CONCLUSION: Impairments in the cognitive flexibility and more specifically shifting attention and continuous performance may be indicative of vigilance and orientation problems rather than executive functions for the SCT construct.