Distinct response time distributions in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes.
OBJECTIVE
To address the issue of response time (RT) profiles in hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-HI), inattentive (ADHD-IA), and combined (ADHD-C) subtypes of ADHD. We hypothesized that children with ADHD-HI should respond more rapidly than children without ADHD and children with ADHD-IA and ADHD-C should respond more slowly than children without ADHD.


METHODS
Four groups (3 ADHD groups and 1 non-ADHD group) each composed of 16 children (7-13 years old) performed a visuospatial choice task.


RESULTS
ANOVA indicated very variable RTs for each ADHD subtype when controlling for individual RT. ANOVA performed on RT distribution showed significant differences between the ADHD and non-ADHD groups: biased to fast responses in ADHD-HI and biased to slow responses in ADHD-IA and ADHD-C.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that response time profiles were abnormal in all ADHD subtypes and were markedly different between children meeting criteria for ADHD-HI and those meeting criteria for ADHD-IA or ADHD-C.
Querne
Laurent
L
Amiens University Medical Center, France.
Berquin
Patrick
P
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014888:Wechsler Scales