A retrospective investigation of the added clinical value of SCT symptoms on neuropsychological assessments in youth with ADHD. Issue 3 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barakat, Marc; Mashmoushi, Rasha; Oghgassian, George; Shamseddeen, Wael
• Is Part Of: Child neuropsychology. Volume 27:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Sluggish cognitive tempo -- attention-deficit disorder with/without hyperactivity -- neuropsychological assessment -- psychological assessment -- developmental disorder; Pediatric neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Child development deviations -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; 618.92805
• DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2020.1841146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0929-7049

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Some researchers believe that Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) should be its own psychiatric disorder. However, despite the abundance of literature describing its possible symptoms, evidence of its clinical impact on cognitive tests and some clinical comorbidities is still weak. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the added clinical value of exploring SCT symptoms prior to a neuropsychological assessment in a youth population diagnosed with an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For this purpose, we used linear regressions to examine the association between different test results and SCT, as well as logistic regressions to examine the association between the existence of different diagnoses and SCT in a group of 295 ADHD patients [73 females, 24.7%], aged between 6 and 18 years [Mean (SD): 9.91 (3.12)]. Our results showed that parent-reported SCT symptoms did not help predict neuropsychological test outcomes. In addition, they did not predict Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), nor anxiety and depression when we controlled for age, Vanderbilt inattention and hyperactivity subscales, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. These results requestion the added-value of screening for SCT in similar clinical neuropsychological settings.