title: The test of variables of attention (TOVA) is useful in the diagnosis of Japanese male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of the test of variables of attention (TOVA) to distinguish between 6- to 12-year-old Japanese male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD group; n=17) meeting DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria, and age-matched, normal Japanese male controls (control group; n=19). The TOVA is a computer-administered, visual continuous performance test that provides measures of attention. The ADHD group had significantly higher means than the control group in all variables: omission errors, commission errors, response time, response time variability, anticipatory responses, and multiple response. Control children exhibited age-related changes in two variables: response time and response-time variability, but no age-related changes were observed in any variables in the ADHD group. This preliminary study indicates that the TOVA makes a useful contribution to the diagnosis of Japanese male children with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume City, 830-0011, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors