Cognitive Functions among Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) & Emotional Disorders.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Emotional Disorders (ED) afflict young children and adolescents significantly and children with these psychiatric disorders clearly have impairment in cognitive functions. The present study aims to study the impairment in cognitive functions (Focused Attention & Executive Function) among children with ADHD and ED compared to normal control. The study further aims to study the variation in the cognitive functions with severity of the illness. Method: Twenty diagnosed ADHD children meeting the ICD-10 criteria for ADHD and twenty children having Emotional Disorders (ED) meeting the ICD-10 criteria under F-93 were assessed on the measures of Focused Attention and Executive Function and compared with twenty age and education matched normal control group. Results: Children with ADHD and ED performed poorly on the measures of Focused Attention and Executive Function compared to normal control, however, the severity of illness was not identified as a factor contributing to the impairment in cognitive functioning. Conclusion: Inattention and impairment in executive functions are not restricted to children with ADHD alone, but are also manifested in children with ED. Both the groups (Children with ADHD and ED) can be placed in juxtaposition with regard to their pattern of cognitive impairment. However, the difference lies in relation to the degree of impairment, as children with ADHD demonstrate greater deficit in their cognitive functioning as compared to those with EDs. Thus, inattention does not always indicate that the child stands in the crowd of ADHD rather the clinicians and researchers need to look for the other possible childhood disorders that are likely to contribute to the impairment in executive functions and attentional abilities of the child