Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Using Brain Activation (nir-HEG/Q-EEG) and Execution Measures (CPTs) in a ADHD Assessment Protocol
Published on: April 1, 2018
Should sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms be included in the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?
Richard D Todd1, Erik R Rasmussen, Catherine Wood
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. toddr@psychiatry.wustl.edu
Objective:
To determine the impact of including sluggish cognitive tempo items on the factor and latent class structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes in boys and girls.
Method:
Parent report of two sluggish cognitive tempo items on a population-based sample of 1430 female twins and 1414 male twins were analyzed along with parent report of the 18 DSM-IV ADHD items using principal components analysis and latent class analysis.
Results:
The inclusion of the two sluggish cognitive tempo items resulted in distinct factor structures for boys and girls. For boys there were separate inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and sluggish factors. For girls there were separate inattentive/sluggish, hyperactive, and impulsive factors. In contrast, sluggish cognitive tempo items had minimal impact on the latent class structure of ADHD for both boys and girls.
Conclusions:
The inclusion of sluggish cognitive tempo items markedly changed ADHD symptom associations for boys and girls in a factor analytic framework. In contrast, latent class subtyping of ADHD shows limited impact of the inclusion of sluggish cognitive tempo items, emphasizing the very different assumptions about underlying continua of behavior rather than discrete classes that distinguish the two approaches.
More Related Videos
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
10:02Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Published on: March 12, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Information Processing Approach