Process examination of executive function in ADHD: sex and subtype effects
Ericka L Wodka1, Stewart H Mostofsky, Cristine Prahme
1Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 1750 E. Fairmount Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. mahone@kennedykrieger.org
The Clinical Neuropsychologist
|July 9, 2008
Summary
Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) showed similar performance on most executive functioning measures compared to typically developing peers. Sex and ADHD subtype influenced performance on specific verbal fluency tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Executive functions are crucial for cognitive control and behavior regulation.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with executive function deficits.
- Understanding the influence of sex and ADHD subtype on executive functioning is important for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of group (ADHD vs. Typically Developing [TD]), sex, and ADHD subtype on optional executive functioning measures.
- To identify specific patterns of executive functioning differences in children with ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Children aged 8-16 (n=123; 54 ADHD, 69 TD) completed D-KEFS subtests assessing executive functioning.
- Analysis focused on group, sex, and ADHD subtype effects on 'process/optional' measures.
Main Results:
- No significant group, sex, or ADHD subtype differences were observed on most D-KEFS optional measures.
- A significant interaction for Verbal Fluency Total Repetition Errors indicated sex-based performance differences within ADHD subtypes (Combined/Hyperactive-Impulsive vs. Inattentive).
- Children with ADHD subtypes less common for their sex were at higher risk for poorer performance.
Conclusions:
- Overall, children with ADHD do not exhibit widespread deficits in optional executive functioning measures compared to TD peers.
- Sex and ADHD subtype interact to influence specific aspects of executive functioning, particularly verbal fluency.
- Identifying sex-specific ADHD subtypes may help predict executive functioning challenges and inform personalized support strategies.
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