Is Processing Speed (Gs) related to Hyperactivity (As a Narrow Cognitive Area of Gps): A Dimensional Approach to Heterogeneity of Clinical and WISC-IV Cognitive Profiles in ADHD From RDoC/HiTOP Perspective

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between symptomatology and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) cognitive profiles in Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), taking into account clinical heterogeneity. Method: The WISC-IV was administered to 60 children aged 6 to 13 years with ADHD who had not previously taken psychotropic medication. Conners Teacher-Rating Scale (CTRS-R/L) and Conners Parent-Rating Scale (CPRS-R/L) were completed by parents and teachers. Results: We found a statistically significant positive correlation between the symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and PSI (Processing Speed Index). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the CTRS-R/L’s DSM-IV Inattentive subscale and PRI (Perceptual Reasoning Index). No relationship was found between the inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity symptomatology with Working Memory Index (WMI). WMI stood out as the most frequently reported weakness among the four index scores. Conclusion: Considering the relationship between the cognitive domains of RDoC (Research Domain Criteria) and dimensions of HiTOP with the ADHD symptom clusters, the assessment of cognitive and behavioral symptoms may be useful for phenotyping ADHD. According to the CHC (Cattell-Horn-Carroll) theory; the positive correlation level between PSI, which is accepted as Gs, and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in people with ADHD may be due to the fact that hyperactivity is one of the narrow cognitive domains of Gps.

Network Analysis of ADHD Symptoms and Cognitive Profiles in Children

“…Therefore, the attention deficit might produce various degree of impact on to the cognitive performance. 35,53 Interestingly, we found that the PRI scores of children with ADHD were better than the Chinese norm, which was consistent with the study of Walg et al, in contrary to the study of Dinçer et al Notably, our study and the study of Walg et al were based on boys and girls, and the study of Dinçer et al was only based on boys, suggesting the impact of gender difference onto the cognition. As opposed to VCI which measures crystallized intelligence, PRI measures the fluid.…”

“…The continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and categorical variables were presented as percentages. 35 One-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the WISC-IV scores of ADHD children in our study with the reliability norms of Chinese children, and dependent sample t -test was used to compare differences in the WISC-IV index scores of our samples. In addition, Mann–Whitney U test was used to assess the difference in the WISC-IV scores between the ADHD groups with and without comorbid symptoms.…”

“…So far, many theoretical models have been proposed to explain the cognitive performance of ADHD through statistical methods such as Pearson’s correlation analysis and hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis, but network analysis has not been used to construct a model of ADHD and cognition. 18 , 27 , 35 , 36 Network analysis is a statistical method that visualizes how specific symptoms interact with each other in a mental disorder. 37 According to the network model theory, symptoms are manifestations of some common underlying factors, and the relationship between symptoms will play a decisive role in the clinical presentation of a disease.…”