Inhibitory Control, Conduct Problems, and Callous Unemotional Traits in Children with ADHD and Typically Developing Children

• Published in: Developmental neuropsychology Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 42 - 59
• Main Authors: Waschbusch, Daniel A., Babinski, Dara E., Fosco, Whitney D., Haas, Sarah M., Waxmonsky, James G., Garon, Nancy, Nichols, Shana, King, Sara, Santor, Darcy A., Andrade, Brendan F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 2022; Psychology Press
• Subjects: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Child; Children; Conduct Disorder - diagnosis; Conduct Disorder - psychology; Emotions; Humans; Problem Behavior
• ISSN: 8756-5641; 1532-6942
• DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2032713

Compared children with CP/ADHD, CPCU/ADHD, ADHD-only, and controls on two measures of inhibitory control: a Simon/flanker task that measured response selection and a stop signal task that measured response inhibition. Results showed: (a) ADHD was associated with both measures of inhibitory control; (b) control children had better overall performance and ADHD-only had worse response selection than the CP groups; and (c) children with CPCU/ADHD had better response inhibition than children with ADHD-only or CP/ADHD. Results suggest inhibitory control dysfunction is associated with ADHD rather than CP and that response inhibition dysfunction distinguishes children with CP/ADHD from children with CPCU/ADHD.