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Lack of executive function deficits among adult ADHD individuals from a Brazilian clinical sample

Ausência de déficits de funções executivas em adultos portadores de TDAH provenientes de amostra clínica brasileira

Abstract

Executive function deficits have been previously documented in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Objective:

The current study aimed to compare measures of executive functions among a clinical sample of adults with ADHD and normal control subjects, matched for age, gender and education.

Methods:

Twenty-three self-referred adults diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, and twenty-five control subjects were assessed using a neuropsychological battery which included the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Tower of Hanoi, Digit Span, Trail Making Test (A and B), Stroop Test and Raven's Progressive Matrices.

Results:

The ADHD group did not differ significantly from the control subjects on any of the measures assessed.

Conclusion:

Measures of executive functions using this test battery were unable to discriminate between adults with ADHD and control subjects in this clinical sample.

Key words:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; attention; executive functions; neuropsychological tests; adults.

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