Sustained and Focused Attention Deficits in Adult ADHD
Natalie D. J. Marchetta1,
Petra P. M. Hurks1,
Leo M. J. De Sonneville2,
Lydia Krabbendam1,
and
Jelle Jolles1*
1 Maastricht University
2 Leiden University
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: j.jolles{at}np.unimaas.nl.
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Abstract |
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Objective: To examine the specificity of deficits in focused attention and sustained attention in adults with ADHD and to evaluate the effect of comorbidity. Method: Twenty-eight adults with ADHD without comorbidity were compared with 28 ADHD outpatients with comorbidity. Two control groups were used: 68 adults referred for ADHD but with another psychopathology rather than ADHD (non-ADHD) and 28 healthy controls. All participants completed attention tests of the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks program. Results: Both ADHD groups demonstrated a sustained attention deficit relative to the control groups, as indicated by a disproportionate deterioration of speed fluctuation with time-on-task reflecting temporal lapses in attention. Only the ADHD+ group showed focused attention deficits in that they were less able to ignore irrelevant information. Conclusion: These findings show that adults with ADHD have specific deficits in sustained attention. Additional deficits in focused attention are confined to outpatients with ADHD and comorbidity.