Validity of Neurocognitive Assessment Methods in Childhood ADHD

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is to examine the prospective validity of neurocognitive functions and emotional factors in schoolchildren with ADHD and a control group of typically developing schoolchildren at baseline and after three years.

Detailed Description
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In spite of extensive research on children with ADHD, there is still insufficient understanding of the discriminative validity of neurocognitive tests and how test results of neurocognitive functions and ratings of emotional factors and ADHD symptoms change over time and interacts during development. The project is studying the validity of clinical assessment methods within the Swedish child and adolescent psychiatry service (CAP) related to the identification of ADHD, additional impairments, and comorbidity. The prospective validity of neurocognitive functions and emotional factors in schoolchildren with ADHD and a control group of typically developing schoolchildren at baseline and after three years will be investigated. Specific aims: Aim I: Study how attentiveness and impulsivity in ADHD change over three years by comparing the results of psychological tests and rating scales at baseline and after three years Aim II: Study intellectual development in ADHD by comparing the results of intelligence tests at baseline and after three years- Aim III: Study how emotional factors change over three years by comparing the results of rating scales at baseline and after three years

Official Title
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Validity of Neurocognitive Assessment Methods in Childhood ADHD

Conditions
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Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The ADHD-group: • The individuals were assessed and diagnosed with ADHD at the Neuropsychiatric Unit of the CAP Clinic in Lund in 2011-2012 Non-clinical group: School children from Lund. Exclusion Criteria: If the individual had a diagnosed intellectual disability If the individual required an interpreter to participate in the study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 7 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| ADHD group<br>Participants in the clinical group were recruited to the project when they were assessed for and diagnosed with ADHD at the Neuropsychiatric Unit of the CAP Clinic in Lund in 2011-2012. The ADHD group was treated as usual in the clinic and re-assessed during 2014-2015. | |
| Non-clinical group<br>Participants in the non-clinical group were recruited recruited 2012 from schools in the same district and among children of the same average age as the ADHD-group 2012. The non-clinical group did not have any intervention during the follow-up time. Th non-clinical group was re-assessed during 2015. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Emotional status assessed with the Beck Youth Inventory. | The children were assessed with the Beck youth scales at two timepoints with a time interval of 3 years. Beck Youth Inventory consist of 5 subscales, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Disruptive behaviour, Self-concept. It is standardized into percentiles and higher scores mean worse behaviour, except for Self-concept. In Self-concept higher scores mean better behaviour. | 2011-2012 and 2014-2015 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neuropsychological status assesses with the Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT) II | The children were assessed with the Conners'CPT II at two timepoints with a time interval of 3 years. Conners' CPT II is a performance based test measuring reaction time, reaction time variability, omissions and comissions. Conners' CPT II is standardised into T scores; mean=50, SD=10. Higher scores mean worse results. | 2011-2012 and 2014-2015 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Intelligence, Anxiety, Attention, Conduct behavior, Follow-up, Children