title: Complex prospective memory in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults has been associated with disturbances of attention and executive functions. Furthermore, impairments of verbal and figural retrospective memory were reported. However, little is known about the effects of ADHD on prospective memory, the execution of delayed intentions in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study compared the performance of 45 adult patients with ADHD not treated with stimulant medication with the performance of 45 matched healthy individuals on a paradigm of complex prospective memory which measured task planning, plan recall, self-initiation and execution. Furthermore, the contribution of other cognitive functions to prospective memory functioning was assessed, including measures of attention, executive functions and memory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large-scale impairment could be observed in task planning abilities in patients with ADHD. Only negligible to small effects were found for plan recall, self-initiation and execution. Inhibition was identified to contribute significantly to performance on task planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that four cognitive components contribute to the performance of prospective memory. Impairments of prospective memory mainly emerged from deficient planning abilities in adults with ADHD. Implications on behavioral based intervention strategies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anselm B M
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fuermaier
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tucha
authors.forename: Janneke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koerts
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aschenbrenner
authors.forename: Celina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westermann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weisbrod
authors.forename: Klaus W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tucha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests