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Neuropsychological assessment of adult ADHD: A case study
764
Abstracts from the 19th Annual Meeting
a primary diagnosis of A R A D D were compared with eight recently detoxified patients diagnosed with Substance Dependence (SUB) and 15 normal controls (NC) subjects. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery using standardized and experimental measures was administered. In addition, participants were administered a structured interview and self-report questionnaires. Clinical patients were carefully screened for inclusion by board-certified psychiatrists; all subjects met strict exclusion criteria. Age and education ranged from 17 to 47 years and 10 to 18 years, respectively. All self-report measures, except one measuring physical symptomatology, differentiated A R A D D from NC subjects. However, only one measure assessing current patient behavior differentiated between SUB and ARADD. These findings were significant, despite the small sample size. In contrast, limited support was found for using neurocognitive measures to differentiate among groups and warrant additional study. In conclusion, these data provide strong support for the clinical utility of self-report measures for distinguishing A R A D D from SUB patients and healthy controls. Horton, A. M. Jr. Neuropsychological Assessment of Adult ADHD: A Case Study. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is usually considered as a disorder that first arises in children. These children are considered to have problems with motor activity and paying attention. Recently, there has been a realization that contrary to previously held notions, all ADD symptoms are not outgrown as the child becomes an adult (i.e., motor overactivity does appear to decline), but that ADD persists into adult life. Relatively little, however, is known about neuropsychological deficits in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this case study, a neuropsychological battery was administered to a 49-year-old Caucasian female that included the WAIS-III, WRAT-3, Category Test, Trail Making Test, Stroop Color Word Test, Wechsler Memory Scale-Ill, Finger Tapping Test, Reitan-Indiana Aphasia Screening Examination, Rey 15 Item Test, 21 Item Test, MCMI-III, Childhood Symptom Checklist, and the Screening Form for Assessment of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, Residual Type. Results suggested few clear neuropsychological deficits except for recall on the Auditory Delayed Memory and Auditory Recognition Delayed Memory subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Ill and on the Category Test. These findings argue for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for adults suspected of having Attention Deficit Disorder. French, C. L., & Riccio, C. A. Efficacy of Programs to Remediate Attention. Attention problems are a common complaint associated with traumatic brain injury and a variety of other disorders as well as being a characteristic feature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that there are a number of programs available that have been developed to improve attention; some of these are supported by empirical research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of these programs based on the available literature. More than 40 studies were identified that used some form of attention training. Training methods included computerized systems, biofeedback, and more generic attention programs. Populations studied included individuals with ADHD, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and mental retardation, as well as normal volunteers. Pre-/postmeasures included a variety of laboratory measures of attention and/or behavioral ratings, depending on the study. After excluding single case studies, for those studies that reported sufficient data, effect sizes (pretraining to posttraining) ranged from minimal (ES < .10) to large (ES > 2.0) with sample sizes ranging from 4 to 92. The variability, however, not only reflects treatment program differences
Abstracts from the 19th Annual Meeting
a primary diagnosis of A R A D D were compared with eight recently detoxified patients diagnosed with Substance Dependence (SUB) and 15 normal controls (NC) subjects. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery using standardized and experimental measures was administered. In addition, participants were administered a structured interview and self-report questionnaires. Clinical patients were carefully screened for inclusion by board-certified psychiatrists; all subjects met strict exclusion criteria. Age and education ranged from 17 to 47 years and 10 to 18 years, respectively. All self-report measures, except one measuring physical symptomatology, differentiated A R A D D from NC subjects. However, only one measure assessing current patient behavior differentiated between SUB and ARADD. These findings were significant, despite the small sample size. In contrast, limited support was found for using neurocognitive measures to differentiate among groups and warrant additional study. In conclusion, these data provide strong support for the clinical utility of self-report measures for distinguishing A R A D D from SUB patients and healthy controls. Horton, A. M. Jr. Neuropsychological Assessment of Adult ADHD: A Case Study. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is usually considered as a disorder that first arises in children. These children are considered to have problems with motor activity and paying attention. Recently, there has been a realization that contrary to previously held notions, all ADD symptoms are not outgrown as the child becomes an adult (i.e., motor overactivity does appear to decline), but that ADD persists into adult life. Relatively little, however, is known about neuropsychological deficits in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this case study, a neuropsychological battery was administered to a 49-year-old Caucasian female that included the WAIS-III, WRAT-3, Category Test, Trail Making Test, Stroop Color Word Test, Wechsler Memory Scale-Ill, Finger Tapping Test, Reitan-Indiana Aphasia Screening Examination, Rey 15 Item Test, 21 Item Test, MCMI-III, Childhood Symptom Checklist, and the Screening Form for Assessment of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, Residual Type. Results suggested few clear neuropsychological deficits except for recall on the Auditory Delayed Memory and Auditory Recognition Delayed Memory subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Ill and on the Category Test. These findings argue for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for adults suspected of having Attention Deficit Disorder. French, C. L., & Riccio, C. A. Efficacy of Programs to Remediate Attention. Attention problems are a common complaint associated with traumatic brain injury and a variety of other disorders as well as being a characteristic feature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that there are a number of programs available that have been developed to improve attention; some of these are supported by empirical research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of these programs based on the available literature. More than 40 studies were identified that used some form of attention training. Training methods included computerized systems, biofeedback, and more generic attention programs. Populations studied included individuals with ADHD, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and mental retardation, as well as normal volunteers. Pre-/postmeasures included a variety of laboratory measures of attention and/or behavioral ratings, depending on the study. After excluding single case studies, for those studies that reported sufficient data, effect sizes (pretraining to posttraining) ranged from minimal (ES < .10) to large (ES > 2.0) with sample sizes ranging from 4 to 92. The variability, however, not only reflects treatment program differences