Sustained and Focused Attention Deficits in Adult ADHD

• Published in: Journal of attention disorders Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 664 - 676
• Main Authors: Marchetta, Natalie D. J., Hurks, Petra P. M., De Sonneville, Leo M. J., Krabbendam, Lydia, Jolles, Jelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Attention; Attention - physiology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Comparative Analysis; Control Groups; Female; Fixation, Ocular - physiology; Humans; Male; Multiple Disabilities; Reaction Time; Severity of Illness Index; ADHD; attention; comorbidity; adults; ANT
• ISSN: 1087-0547; 1557-1246
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054707305108

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. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 11(6) 664-676)