Executive Function in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder : Relationship of Comprehensive Attention, Stoop Color-Word, Children's Color Trails, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Tests / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of the Comprehensive Attention (CAT), Stoop Color-Word (STROOP), Children's Color Trails (CCTT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Tests (WCST) in evaluating the executive function in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A total of 197 children and adolescents with ADHD (mean age 10.4+/-3.2 years, 173 boys) and 62 without ADHD (mean age 11.8+/-3.5 years, 48 boys) have completed the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-IV questionnaire (SNAP-IV), and also the CAT, STROOP, CCTT and WCST. RESULTS: The selective, sustained, divided attention and Flanker tests of the CAT significantly discriminated between the ADHD and non-ADHD groups. The results of the CCTT were significantly correlated with the results of the CAT only in the ADHD group. The results of the STROOP were associated with selective, sustained, divided attention and Flanker tests. The results of the WCST were significantly correlated with the scores of the Working Memory subtest of the CAT only in the non-ADHD group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the CAT has strong discriminant validity and moderate concurrent validity. The CAT could be a tool for the evaluation of the executive function of ADHD.