Executive function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comorbid tics disorders / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore whether executive function (EF) deficits are specific to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or whether such deficits are also associated with tics disorder (TD).Methods:A total of 112 ADHD comorbid TD (ADHD +TD) children,112 pure ADHD children and 112 normal controls were selected.The diagnosis was according to the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ).The groups were matched by sex,age (less than 6 months) and IQ.The Rey-Osterrieth complex Figure Test,the Trail Making Test,and Stroop Color Word Test were administered to assess working memory,shifting and inhibitory function respectively.The results of the comparison between groups used multivariate analysis of variance,and the statistically significant indicators were conducted with apost-test comparison.Results:Both pure ADHD group and ADHD + TD group performed worse (P ＜ 0.05) in the aspects of the delay recalling structure score,the immediate memory detail score,delay recalling detail score of Rey complex figure test,time of numberletter part and shifting time of trail making test,the time of Stroops2,4,the errors of Stroop 4 and word interference than normal controls.In the aspects of the score of the structure and detail forgetting,the pure ADHD group performed worse (P ＜0.05) than normal controls,but the ADHD + TD group didn't.The differences were significant (P ＜ 0.05).The other differences all weren't significant (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion:It suggests that children with ADHD have executive function deficit,particular in the tests assessing working memory,shifting and inhibitory function,whether or not comorbid tics disorder.Comorbid tics disorders may not be the factor of aggravation.