Continuous performance test in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic disorders: the role of sustained attention. (9th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lucke, Ilse M.; Lin, Charlotte; Conteh, Fatmata; Federline, Amanda; Sung, Huyngmo; Specht, Matthew; Grados, Marco A.
• Is Part Of: CNS spectrums. Volume 20:Number 5(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 489
• Publication Date: 2014-10-09
• Subjects: Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1017/S1092852914000467
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1092-8529

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="abs1" sec-type="general"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders (TD) are often associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In order to clarify the role of attention and inhibitory control in pediatric OCD and TD, a continuous performance test (CPT) was administered to a cohort of children and adolescents with OCD alone, TD alone, and OCD+TD.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs2" sec-type="methods"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A clinical cohort of 48 children and adolescents with OCD alone (n<bold>=</bold>20), TD alone (n<bold>=</bold>15), or OCD+TD (n<bold>=</bold>13) was interviewed clinically and administered the Conners Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II). The Conners CPT-II is a 14-minute normed computerized test consisting of 6 blocks. It taps into attention, inhibitory control, and sustained attention cognitive domains. Key parameters include errors of omission (distractability), commission (inhibitory control), and variable responding over time (sustained attention). <italic>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders</italic>, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) criteria were applied in a best-estimate process to diagnose OCD, TD, ADHD, and anxiety disorders.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs3" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>Children with OCD+TD had more errors of omission (<italic>p</italic><bold>=</bold>0.03), and more hit RT block change (<italic>p</italic><bold>=</bold>0.003) and hit SE block change (<italic>p</italic><bold>=</bold>0.02) than subjects with OCD alone and TD alone. These deficits in sustained attention were associated with younger age and hoarding tendencies. A clinical diagnosis of ADHD in the OCD+TD group also determined worse sustained attention.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs4" sec-type="conclusions"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>A deficit in sustained attention, a core marker of ADHD, is also a marker of OCD+TD, compared to OCD alone and TD alone. Biological correlates of sustained attention may serve to uncover the pathophysiology of OCD and TD through genetic and imaging studies.</p> </sec> </abstract>