Stability of executive function deficits into young adult years: a prospective longitudinal follow-up study of grown up males with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
Although individuals with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) commonly exhibit deficits in executive functions that greatly increase the morbidity of the disorder, all available information on the subject is cross sectional.


METHODS
Males (n = 85) 9-22 years with ADHD followed over 7 years into young adulthood were assessed on measures of sustained attention/vigilance, planning and organization, response inhibition, set shifting and categorization, selective attention and visual scanning, verbal and visual learning, and memory. A binary definition of executive function deficits (EFDs) was defined based on a subject manifesting at least two abnormal tests 1.5 standard deviations from controls.


RESULTS
The majority of subjects maintained EFDs over time (kappa: 0.41, P < 0.001; sensitivity: 55%, specificity: 85%, positive predictive value: 69%, and negative predictive value: 75%).


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the morbidity of EFDs, these findings stress the importance of their early recognition for prevention and early intervention strategies. EFDs are stable over time.
Biederman
J
J
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jbiederman@partners.org
Petty
C R
CR
Fried
R
R
Doyle
A E
AE
Spencer
T
T
Seidman
L J
LJ
Gross
L
L
Poetzl
K
K
Faraone
S V
SV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D014706:Verbal Learning