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Ceruti C, Mingozzi A, Scionti N, Marzocchi GM. Comparing Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Autism and ADHD-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:473. [PMID: 38671689 PMCID: PMC11049008 DOI: 10.3390/children11040473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Two neurodevelopmental conditions, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), have been associated with executive function (EF) impairments but the specificity of their impairments is still controversial. The present meta-analysis aimed to identify the differences in EF profiles of ASD, ADHD, and ASD+ADHD in relation to a control group of individuals with typical development (TD) and to understand whether the EF performance could change depending upon the type of measure used to assess EF (performance tests vs. questionnaires). Results from 36 eligible studies revealed that ADHD and ASD showed more difficulties than the TD group in tests and, particularly, in questionnaires. No significant differences in the EF profile emerged between ASD and ADHD when assessed through neuropsychological tests (d = 0.02), while significant differences emerged when assessed through questionnaires, with ADHD having higher ratings than ASD (d = -0.34). EF questionnaires and neuropsychological tests may catch two different constructs of EF, with the former being more predictive of everyday life EF impairments. The comparison between the double diagnosis group (ADHD+ASD) and the clinical groups pointed out that the former has a more similar EF profile to the ADHD-alone one and that it shows more difficulties than ASD-alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gian Marco Marzocchi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy; (C.C.); (A.M.)
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Özyurt G, Öztürk Y, Turan S, Çıray RO, Tanıgör EK, Ermiş Ç, Tufan AE, Akay A. Are Communication Skills, Emotion Regulation and Theory of Mind Skills Impaired in Adolescents with Developmental Dyslexia? Dev Neuropsychol 2024; 49:99-110. [PMID: 38466040 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2024.2325338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates pragmatic language impairment, Theory of Mind (ToM), and emotion regulation in adolescents with Developmental Dyslexia(DD). The Social Responsiveness Scale-2(SRS) and Children's Communication Checklist-2(CCC-2) scores were found to be statistically significantly higher in the DD group than in healthy controls. DD group had lower performance in ToM skills and they have more difficulties in emotion regulation. We also found that CCC-2 and ToM scores were significantly correlated in adolescents with DD. These results may be important in understanding the difficulties experienced in social functioning and interpersonal relationships in adolescents with DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonca Özyurt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Katip Çelebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Öztürk
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, School of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Serkan Turan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bursa Uludağ University, School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Remzi Oğulcan Çıray
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Karagöz Tanıgör
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Katip Çelebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Çağatay Ermiş
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ali Evren Tufan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, School of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
| | - Aynur Akay
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey
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Tsolakopoulos D, Kasselimis D, Laskaris N, Angelopoulou G, Papageorgiou G, Velonakis G, Varkanitsa M, Tountopoulou A, Vassilopoulou S, Goutsos D, Potagas C. Exploring Pragmatic Deficits in Relation to Theory of Mind and Executive Functions: Evidence from Individuals with Right Hemisphere Stroke. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1385. [PMID: 37891754 PMCID: PMC10605575 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Research investigating pragmatic deficits in individuals with right hemisphere damage focuses on identifying the potential mechanisms responsible for the nature of these impairments. Nonetheless, the presumed shared cognitive mechanisms that could account for these deficits have not yet been established through data-based evidence from lesion studies. This study aimed to examine the co-occurrence of pragmatic language deficits, Theory of Mind impairments, and executive functions while also exploring their associations with brain lesion sites. Twenty-five patients suffering from unilateral right hemisphere stroke and thirty-seven healthy participants were recruited for this study. The two groups were tested in pragmatics, Theory of Mind, and executive function tasks. Structural imaging data were also obtained for the identification of the lesion sites. The findings of this study suggest a potential convergence among the three aforementioned cognitive mechanisms. Moreover, we postulate a hypothesis for a neural circuitry for communication impairments observed in individuals with right hemisphere damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Tsolakopoulos
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Av., 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kasselimis
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Av., 11528 Athens, Greece
- Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 17671 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Laskaris
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Av., 11528 Athens, Greece
- Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, School of Engineering, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Angelopoulou
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Av., 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Papageorgiou
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Av., 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Velonakis
- Second Department of Radiology, Attikon General University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Varkanitsa
- Center for Brain Recovery, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Argyro Tountopoulou
- Stroke Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Vassilopoulou
- Stroke Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysis Goutsos
- Department of Linguistics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin Potagas
- Neuropsychology and Language Disorders Unit, 1st Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Av., 11528 Athens, Greece
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Crisci G, Cardillo R, Mammarella IC. The Processes Underlying Positive Illusory Bias in ADHD: The Role of Executive Functions and Pragmatic Language Skills. J Atten Disord 2022; 26:1245-1256. [PMID: 34937413 DOI: 10.1177/10870547211063646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children with ADHD often show a positive illusory bias (PIB), reporting an extremely positive idea of their own competence, despite their difficulties. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still poorly understood. In the present study, we examined social PIB and investigated the role of executive functions (EFs) and pragmatic language (PL). METHOD Forty-one children with ADHD and 42 typically-developing children matched on age, IQ, and receptive language were administered measures of social competence, EFs and PL. The parents were also asked to estimate their child's social competence. RESULTS There was evidence of social difficulties and PIB in children with ADHD. Only PL, not EFs, seemed to mediate the association between ADHD and PIB. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that PL abilities should be considered in efforts to improve self-perception in children with ADHD.
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Camia M, Benassi E, Giovagnoli S, Scorza M. Specific learning disorders in young adults: Investigating pragmatic abilities and their relationship with theory of mind, executive functions and quality of life. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 126:104253. [PMID: 35526492 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are lifelong conditions often associated with language difficulties, executive dysfunctions, and psychological problems. Previous research has shown that communicative-pragmatic ability may be impaired in SLD. However, the role of other cognitive abilities in explaining pragmatic difficulties has still not been fully investigated. The relationship between pragmatics and quality of life is not yet clear, as well. AIMS Firstly, the study assessed pragmatic comprehension abilities in adults with SLD. Secondly, we examined the relationship between pragmatics, theory of mind, executive functions and quality of life. METHOD AND PROCEDURES We enrolled 26 adults with SLD and 30 adults without SLD. Standardized tests assessing pragmatic comprehension, theory of mind and executive functions were used. The quality of life was investigated with a self-reported questionnaire. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Pragmatic comprehension abilities were compromised in young adults with SLD. In this clinical population we also found a link between pragmatic comprehension and visual theory of mind. Finally, independently from the presence of SLD, pragmatics abilities were in relationship with quality of life. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Overall, these data highlight the importance of including pragmatic abilities both in the clinical evaluation, as well as in psychological intervention for adults with SLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Camia
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Campus San Lazzaro, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - Erika Benassi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Campus San Lazzaro, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - Sara Giovagnoli
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Maristella Scorza
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Campus San Lazzaro, Via Amendola 2, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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Randell R, Somerville-Brown L, Chen W. How relevant is higher-order language deficit (HOLD) to children with complex presentations of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 11:325-332. [PMID: 30382558 DOI: 10.1007/s12402-018-0279-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with language impairment, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms and higher-order language deficit (HOLD); yet, their complex relationship is poorly understood. HOLD encompasses deficits in using language for reasoning, problem-solving, causal and critical thinking. This study evaluates the roles of HOLD in children with ADHD. We hypothesise that both our subgroups (ADHD-only and ADHD + 'ASD traits') will have HOLD difficulties, though to a differing degree, as children with ADHD are compromised by executive function deficits, and those with additional ASD traits are further impaired by pragmatic language deficits. Data were reviewed from 36 children with ADHD (± 'ASD traits'), who attended the tier 4 statewide specialist clinic for ADHD patients non-responsive to community care. HOLD was assessed by the Test of Problem Solving-3 Elementary (TOPS-3). The age of the sample ranged from 6 to 12 years with a male-to-female ratio of 8:1. The rate of HOLD in our sample was 47.2% (published controls = 16%). Likewise, the rates of Making Inferences (50.0%, p < 0.001), Sequencing (44.4%, p < 0.001), Negative Questions (33.3%, p = 0.278), Problem-Solving (38.9%, p = 0.022), Predicting (27.8%, p = 0.022) and Determining Causes (30.6%, p = 0.022) were all elevated. When stratified, the rates in ADHD-only group and ADHD + 'ASD traits' group were 37.5% and 55.0%, respectively. Children with ADHD + 'ASD traits' had greater 'Sequencing' deficit. Our exploratory study confirms that HOLD is more common in children with ADHD, including deficits in Making Inferences, Sequencing, Problem-Solving, Predicting, Determining Causes and understanding Negative Questions. Our findings provide preliminary support for the potentially important role played by HOLD in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Randell
- Speech-Language Pathology, Complex Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders Service (CAHDS), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
| | | | - Wai Chen
- Child Psychiatry, Complex Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders Service (CAHDS), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Perth, Australia.
- Centre & Discipline of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Division of Paediatrics and Child Health & Division of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway (M561), Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
- Complex Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders Service (CAHDS), 4th Floor West Entrance, iiid Building, Discovery Way, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
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Reduced emotional empathy in adults with subclinical ADHD: evidence from the empathy and systemizing quotient. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 10:141-150. [PMID: 28836147 PMCID: PMC5973978 DOI: 10.1007/s12402-017-0236-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Studies in children with ADHD suggest impairments in social cognitive functions, whereas studies in adults with ADHD are scarce and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ADHD traits and self-reported social cognitive style in a sample of adults from the general population. For this purpose, a community sample of 685 adults filled out online self-report questionnaires about ADHD symptoms (ADHD Rating Scale, ARS), social cognitive functioning and friendships. The Empathy Quotient (EQ) with the subscales Cognitive Empathy (CE), Emotional Empathy (EE) and Social Skills (SS), and the Systemizing Quotient (SQ) were included for measuring social cognitive style and the Friendship Questionnaire (FQ) for the quality of friendships. Participants who met the DSM-5 criteria on the ARS (‘subclinical ADHD’; n = 56) were compared regarding their social cognitive functioning scores with a control group (n = 56) that was matched for age, sex and student status. With small effect sizes, the subclinical ADHD group showed reduced EE scores on the EQ and a more male social cognitive profile. This result was not influenced by sex or ADHD subtype. This study points to a relationship between traits of ADHD and the emotional aspect of empathy, whereas more complex aspects of empathy were unrelated. These findings should be corroborated in clinical patients with ADHD, employing neuropsychological tests rather than self-report questionnaires.
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Nilsen ES, Bacso SA. Cognitive and behavioural predictors of adolescents' communicative perspective-taking and social relationships. J Adolesc 2017; 56:52-63. [PMID: 28157666 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Given the pivotal role that social interactions play for adolescents' well-being, understanding the factors that influence communication is key. The present study examined relations between adolescents' communicative perspective-taking, executive function skills, and ADHD traits and explored the role communicative perspective-taking plays in peer relations. Data was collected from a community sample of 15 to 19-years-olds (N = 46) in Waterloo, Canada. Two communicative perspective-taking tasks required participants to infer speakers' communicative intentions. A battery of tasks assessed adolescents' working memory and inhibitory control. Elevated ADHD traits were associated with weaker working memory, inhibitory control, and communicative perspective-taking. Working memory was the strongest predictor of communicative perspective-taking. Highlighting the importance of communicative perspective-taking for social interactions, adolescents with weaker skills in this area reported worse peer relations. Findings underscore the importance of communicative perspective-taking for adolescents' social relations and have relevance for understanding the social difficulties faced by adolescents with elevated ADHD traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Nilsen
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Sarah A Bacso
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Nilsen ES, Rints A, Ethier N, Moroz S. Mother-Child Communication: The Influence of ADHD Symptomatology and Executive Functioning on Paralinguistic Style. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1203. [PMID: 27559327 PMCID: PMC4978724 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Paralinguistic style, involving features of speech such as pitch and volume, is an important aspect of one's communicative competence. However, little is known about the behavioral traits and cognitive skills that relate to these aspects of speech. This study examined the extent to which ADHD traits and executive functioning (EF) related to the paralinguistic styles of 8- to 12-year-old children and their mothers. Data was collected via parent report (ADHD traits), independent laboratory tasks of EF (working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility), and an interactive problem-solving task (completed by mothers and children jointly) which was coded for paralinguistic speech elements (i.e., pitch level/variability; volume level/variability). Dyadic data analyses revealed that elevated ADHD traits in children were associated with a more exaggerated paralinguistic style (i.e., elevated and more variable pitch/volume) for both mothers and children. Mothers' paralinguistic style was additionally predicted by an interaction of mothers' and children's ADHD traits, such that mothers with elevated ADHD traits showed exaggerated paralinguistic styles particularly when their children also had elevated ADHD traits. Highlighting a cognitive mechanism, children with weaker inhibitory control showed more exaggerated paralinguistic styles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S. Nilsen
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, WaterlooON, Canada
| | - Ami Rints
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, WaterlooON, Canada
| | - Nicole Ethier
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, WaterlooON, Canada
| | - Sarah Moroz
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, LondonON, Canada
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Children with stronger executive functioning and fewer ADHD traits produce more effective referential statements. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogdev.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Rints A, McAuley T, Nilsen ES. Social Communication is Predicted by Inhibitory Ability and ADHD Traits in Preschool-Aged Children: A Mediation Model. J Atten Disord 2015; 19:901-11. [PMID: 25477018 DOI: 10.1177/1087054714558873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Given the role inhibitory control plays in both ADHD and communication, this study examined whether inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive traits mediate the impact of weak inhibitory ability upon the knowledge and application of pragmatic rules early in development. METHOD Participants were 36 typically developing preschoolers and their caregivers. ADHD traits were assessed per caregiver report. Inhibition was assessed in children using a distraction task. Pragmatic language was assessed by asking children about hypothetical social situations (knowledge) and by asking caregivers to report on children's actual communicative behaviors (application). RESULTS Individual differences in inhibition predicted both facets of pragmatic language development. Hyperactive-impulsive behaviors were a significant mediator of this relationship-but only with regard to children's ability to effectively apply pragmatic rules in everyday life. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that social communication difficulties in some young children are a downstream consequence of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors that arise from poorly developed inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Rints
- University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Martin J, Hamshere ML, Stergiakouli E, O’Donovan MC, Thapar A. Genetic risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder contributes to neurodevelopmental traits in the general population. Biol Psychiatry 2014; 76:664-71. [PMID: 24673882 PMCID: PMC4183378 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be viewed as the extreme end of traits in the general population. Epidemiological and twin studies suggest that ADHD frequently co-occurs with and shares genetic susceptibility with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ASD-related traits. The aims of this study were to determine whether a composite of common molecular genetic variants, previously found to be associated with clinically diagnosed ADHD, predicts ADHD and ASD-related traits in the general population. METHODS Polygenic risk scores were calculated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) population sample (N = 8229) based on a discovery case-control genome-wide association study of childhood ADHD. Regression analyses were used to assess whether polygenic scores predicted ADHD traits and ASD-related measures (pragmatic language abilities and social cognition) in the ALSPAC sample. Polygenic scores were also compared in boys and girls endorsing any (rating ≥ 1) ADHD item (n = 3623). RESULTS Polygenic risk for ADHD showed a positive association with ADHD traits (hyperactive-impulsive, p = .0039; inattentive, p = .037). Polygenic risk for ADHD was also negatively associated with pragmatic language abilities (p = .037) but not with social cognition (p = .43). In children with a rating ≥ 1 for ADHD traits, girls had a higher polygenic score than boys (p = .003). CONCLUSIONS These findings provide molecular genetic evidence that risk alleles for the categorical disorder of ADHD influence hyperactive-impulsive and attentional traits in the general population. The results further suggest that common genetic variation that contributes to ADHD diagnosis may also influence ASD-related traits, which at their extreme are a characteristic feature of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Martin
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff
| | - Marian L. Hamshere
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff
| | | | - Michael C. O’Donovan
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff
| | - Anita Thapar
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff
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Green BC, Johnson KA, Bretherton L. Pragmatic language difficulties in children with hyperactivity and attention problems: an integrated review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2014; 49:15-29. [PMID: 24372883 DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnostic criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suggest a range of difficulties in the pragmatic aspects of language, including excessive talking and interrupting others. Such difficulties have been periodically reported over several decades in studies on the language abilities of children with features of ADHD, yet a comprehensive review of the literature has been lacking. AIMS This review aims to integrate evidence from several lines of research from 1979 to the present on pragmatic language difficulties in children with ADHD or symptoms of ADHD. METHODS & PROCEDURES A comprehensive search of empirical literature on pragmatic language in children with ADHD or symptoms of ADHD was conducted using PsycINFO and PubMed databases and through following up relevant references cited in articles. Literature was reviewed with respect to the nature and extent of pragmatic language difficulties in ADHD. OUTCOMES & RESULTS Thirty studies met the review inclusion criteria, including recent questionnaire studies, observational studies of children's communication patterns, and studies of higher-level language comprehension and production. The studies indicate a consistent profile of pragmatic language impairments in children with features of ADHD, particularly in the areas of excessive talking, poor conversational turn-taking, and lack of coherence and organization in elicited speech. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS Pragmatic language difficulties are common in children with features of ADHD. These difficulties are consistent with deficits in executive function that are thought to characterize ADHD, thus providing some support for the theory that executive function contributes to pragmatic language competency. As yet there is very little empirical evidence of specific relationships between particular aspects of pragmatic language and particular domains of executive function. Given the importance of pragmatic language competency for children's social and academic functioning, pragmatic language abilities should be considered during clinical assessment for ADHD and targeted for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benita C Green
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Geurts HM, Ridderinkhof KR, Scholte HS. The relationship between grey-matter and ASD and ADHD traits in typical adults. J Autism Dev Disord 2013; 43:1630-41. [PMID: 23138728 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1708-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We tested whether in 85 healthy adults (18-29 years) there is a relationship between grey-matter (GM) volume and autism and ADHD symptom severity. The structural MRI findings and autism and ADHD self-reports revealed that autism and ADHD symptom severity was correlated with GM volume in the left inferior frontal gyrus. Autism symptom-severity was correlated with the left posterior cingulate, ADHD with the right parietal lobe, right temporal frontal cortex, bilateral thalamus, and left hippocampus/amygdala complex. Symptom severity of both disorders form a continuum extending into the general population, but it seems to be an oversimplification to typify psychiatric disorders such as autism and ADHD solely as extremes of brain structure abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde M Geurts
- Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Nilsen ES, Mangal L, Macdonald K. Referential communication in children with ADHD: challenges in the role of a listener. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2013; 56:590-603. [PMID: 22988288 DOI: 10.1044/1092-4388(2012/12-0013)] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Successful communication requires that listeners accurately interpret the meaning of speakers' statements. The present work examined whether children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) differ in their ability to interpret referential statements (i.e., phrases that denote objects or events) from speakers. METHOD Children (6 to 9 years old), diagnosed with ADHD (n = 27) and typically developing (n = 26), took part in an interactive task in which they were asked by an adult speaker to retrieve objects from a display case. Children interpreted the referential statements in contexts that either did or did not require perspective-taking. Children's eye movements and object choices were recorded. Parents completed questionnaires assessing their child's frequency of ADHD symptoms and pragmatic communicative abilities. RESULTS Behavioral and eye movement measures revealed that children with ADHD made more interpretive errors and were less likely to consider target referents across the 2 communicative conditions. Furthermore, ADHD symptoms related to children's performance on the communicative task and to parental report of the child's pragmatic skills. CONCLUSION Children with ADHD are less accurate in their interpretations of referential statements. Such difficulties would lead to greater occurrences of miscommunication.
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Gonzalez-Gadea ML, Baez S, Torralva T, Castellanos FX, Rattazzi A, Bein V, Rogg K, Manes F, Ibanez A. Cognitive variability in adults with ADHD and AS: disentangling the roles of executive functions and social cognition. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2013; 34:817-830. [PMID: 23220737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2012.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 11/08/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger's Syndrome (AS) share a heterogeneous cognitive profile. Studies assessing executive functions (EF) and social cognition in both groups have found preserved and impaired performances. These inconsistent findings would be partially explained by the cognitive variability reported in these disorders. First, the present study explored the inter-individual variability in EF and social cognition in both patient groups. Second, we compared differential characteristics and commonalities in the cognitive profiles of EF and social cognition between ADHD, AS and control adults. We assessed 22 patients with ADHD, 23 adults with AS and 21 matched typically developing subjects using different measures of EF (working memory, cognitive flexibility and multitasking) and social cognition (theory of mind and decision-making). Group comparisons and multiple case series analyses (MCSA) were conducted. The between-group comparisons showed an EF deficit in working memory in ADHD and a theory of mind (ToM) impairment in AS. The MCSA evidenced that, compared to controls, ADHD patients had a higher inter-individual variability in EF, while individuals with AS had a more heterogeneous profile in social cognition tasks compared to both groups. Finally, the AS and ADHD groups presented higher task-related variability compared to controls and shared a common heterogeneous profile in EF. This is the first study to compare variability in EF and social cognition profiles of ADHD and AS. We propose that heterogeneity in EF performance is a link between ADHD and AS which may explain the overlap of symptomatology between both diagnoses. In addition, patients with AS seem to show a unique heterogeneous profile in ToM which may explain the low probability of finding AS symptoms in patients with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luz Gonzalez-Gadea
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology & Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive Neurology (INECO), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Taurines R, Schwenck C, Westerwald E, Sachse M, Siniatchkin M, Freitag C. ADHD and autism: differential diagnosis or overlapping traits? A selective review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 4:115-39. [PMID: 22851255 DOI: 10.1007/s12402-012-0086-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
According to DSM-IV TR and ICD-10, a diagnosis of autism or Asperger Syndrome precludes a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, despite the different conceptualization, population-based twin studies reported symptom overlap, and a recent epidemiologically based study reported a high rate of ADHD in autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the planned revision of the DSM-IV TR, dsm5 (www.dsm5.org), the diagnoses of autistic disorder and ADHD will not be mutually exclusive any longer. This provides the basis of more differentiated studies on overlap and distinction between both disorders. This review presents data on comorbidity rates and symptom overlap and discusses common and disorder-specific risk factors, including recent proteomic studies. Neuropsychological findings in the areas of attention, reward processing, and social cognition are then compared between both disorders, as these cognitive abilities show overlapping as well as specific impairment for one of both disorders. In addition, selective brain imaging findings are reported. Therapeutic options are summarized, and new approaches are discussed. The review concludes with a prospectus on open questions for research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Taurines
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Würzburg University, Würzburg, Germany
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Rommelse NN, Geurts HM, Franke B, Buitelaar JK, Hartman CA. A review on cognitive and brain endophenotypes that may be common in autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and facilitate the search for pleiotropic genes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2011; 35:1363-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 249] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2010] [Revised: 02/25/2011] [Accepted: 02/27/2011] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Nilsen ES, Fecica AM. A model of communicative perspective-taking for typical and atypical populations of children. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Sterck EHM, Begeer S. Theory of Mind: Specialized capacity or emergent property? EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/17405620903526242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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