Objectives

Numerous studies showed that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suffer from impairments in a range of cognitive functions when compared to healthy controls. However, only little is known about the neuropsychological functions when compared to various clinical control groups and whether a distinct neuropsychological profile can be identified for adult ADHD.

Method

This retrospective study examined data of 199 outpatients referred for clinical evaluation of adult ADHD, allocated either to an ADHD group (n = 78) or to one of two clinical comparison groups, depending on whether they show indications (n = 71) or no indications (n = 50) for the presence of psychiatric disorders other than ADHD. All individuals performed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.

Results

Data analysis revealed impairments in a range of cognitive functions in a substantial number of patients of all three groups. However, profiles of neuropsychological impairments were similar between groups. Furthermore, significant small- to medium-sized correlations between basic and higher-order cognitive functions were revealed in the ADHD group and the clinical comparison group with indications for psychiatric disorders other than ADHD.

Conclusion

Neuropsychological impairments are prominent in psychiatric outpatients seeking a clinical evaluation of adult ADHD but are not specific for ADHD. It is concluded that neuropsychological test performance may have limited incremental value to support the psychiatric differential diagnosis. Furthermore, a clinical trajectory may need to take into account that deficits in a range of higher-order cognitive functions can be substantially explained by deficits in basic cognitive functions.

中文翻译：

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成人多动症临床评估中个体的神经心理功能

目标

大量研究表明，与健康对照者相比，患有注意力缺陷多动障碍 (ADHD) 的成年人存在一系列认知功能障碍。然而，与各种临床对照组相比，人们对神经心理学功能以及是否可以识别成人多动症的独特神经心理学特征知之甚少。

方法

这项回顾性研究检查了 199 名接受成人 ADHD 临床评估的门诊患者的数据，根据他们是否表现出适应症 ( n = 71) 或无适应症，将其分配到 ADHD 组 ( n = 78) 或两个临床比较组之一( n  = 50) 是否存在 ADHD 以外的精神疾病。所有个人都进行了全面的神经心理学测试。

结果

数据分析显示，所有三组中大量患者均存在一系列认知功能障碍。然而，各组之间的神经心理损伤情况相似。此外，在 ADHD 组和具有 ADHD 以外精神疾病指征的临床对照组中，基本认知功能和高级认知功能之间存在显着的中小型相关性。

结论

神经心理障碍在寻求成人多动症临床评估的精神科门诊患者中很突出，但并不针对多动症。结论是，神经心理学测试表现对于支持精神病学鉴别诊断的增量价值可能有限。此外，临床轨迹可能需要考虑到一系列高阶认知功能的缺陷可以基本上用基本认知功能的缺陷来解释。