International Meeting for Autism Research (London, May 15-17, 2008): Executive Function Profiles in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Elevated ADHD Symptoms

Friday, May 16, 2008

Champagne Terrace/Bordeaux (Novotel London West)

J. L. Sokoloff , Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University, Rockville, MD

D. Shook , Psychology, Georgetown University

K. F. Jankowski , Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

B. Yerys , Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University, Rockville, MD

G. L. Wallace , Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, Bethesda, MD

J. James , Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University, Rockville, MD

L. Kenealy , Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

S. McCracken , Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC

C. J. Vaidya , Psychology, Georgetown University

L. Kenworthy , Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University, Rockville, MD

Background:

Both children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and children with ADHD exhibit deficits in Executive Function (EF). Currently, DSM-IV excludes a co-morbid diagnosis of these disorders. To date, the EF profile of ASD children with elevated ADHD symptoms (Co-morbid) as compared to ASD children without ADHD symptoms, children with ADHD, and typically developing (TD) children is unknown.

Objectives:

Investigate whether children in the Co-morbid group present unique EF deficits relative to pure ASD and ADHD groups and to a group of TD children.

Methods:

132 school-aged children (TD, N = 57, FSIQ = 117; ASD, N = 31, FSIQ = 111; ADHD, N = 30, FSIQ = 112; Co-morbid, N = 14, FSIQ = 103) were recruited for research studies conducted at Children’s National Medical Center. Participants completed an extensive neuropsychological battery and parents reported on everyday EF. Administered measures included Digit Span (working memory); Walk Don’t Walk (inhibition); Tower of London (planning and organization); and the BRIEF, a widely used parent report measure of EF.

Results:

In laboratory measures the Co-morbid group performed significantly worse on the working memory measure relative to all other groups. The Co-morbid group performed significantly worse on the inhibition measure relative to the TD group. No significant group differences were found on the measure of planning/organization. In parent reports the Co-morbid group was rated significantly more impaired on BRIEF measures of working memory and inhibition compared to TD and ASD groups. The Co-morbid group was not rated as impaired relative to other groups on BRIEF measures of planning/organization.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest the Co-morbid group exhibits a unique EF profile relative to ASD or ADHD alone. These findings indicate a need to further examine co-morbid diagnoses as contributing to the phenotypic heterogeneity on the autism spectrum.

See more of: Cognition Posters 2
See more of: Poster Presentations