Differential Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by Means of Inhibitory Control and ‘Theory of Mind’

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 41; no. 12; pp. 1718 - 1726
• Main Authors: Bühler, Eva, Bachmann, Christian, Goyert, Hannah, Heinzel-Gutenbrunner, Monika, Kamp-Becker, Inge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Age; Analysis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention deficit disorders. Hyperactivity; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Autism; Autistic spectrum disorders; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child clinical studies; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - diagnosis; Child, Preschool; Children; Clinical Diagnosis; Cognition; Comparative Analysis; Developmental disorders; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Differential diagnosis; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Individualized Instruction; Infantile autism; Inhibition; Inhibition (Psychology); Inhibitory processes; Male; Medical sciences; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Self Control; Social Behavior; Social context; Surveys and Questionnaires; Theory of Mind; Young Adult; Young Adults; Germany; Autism spectrum disorders (ASD); Inhibitory control; Differential diagnosis; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Theory of mind; Developmental disorder; Differential diagnostic; Social cognition; Autism; Pervasive developmental disorder; Attention disorder with hyperactivity; Inhibition; Cognitive control
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1205-1

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) are both associated with deficits in executive control and with problems in social contexts. This study analyses the variables inhibitory control and theory of mind (ToM), including a developmental aspect in the case of the latter, to differentiate between the disorders. Participants with an ASD ( N  = 86), an ADHD ( N  = 84) and with both disorders ( N  = 52) in the age range of 5–22 years were compared. Results were differences in inhibitory control (ADHD < ASD) and in the ToM performance among younger (ASD < ADHD) but not among older children. We discuss whether common deficits in ToM differ in the developmental course.