Topical review: sluggish cognitive tempo: research findings and relevance for pediatric psychology.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize recent research on sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and consider the potential relevance of SCT for the field of pediatric psychology.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Recent empirical evidence shows SCT symptoms consisting of sluggish/sleepy and daydreamy behaviors to be distinct from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. SCT is associated with psychosocial functioning in children and adolescents, including internalizing symptoms, social withdrawal, and, possibly, academic impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
The recent findings reviewed suggest that SCT is an important construct for pediatric psychologists to be aware of and may also be directly useful for the research and practice of pediatric psychology.
MA, Department of Psychology, Miami University, 90 North Patterson Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056, USA. beckersp@miamioh.edu.
Stephen P
SP
Becker
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000379:methods*
ADHD; SCT; attention deficit disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; executive functioning; pediatrics; sluggish cognitive tempo