Validation of the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks in Hospitalized Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Abstract

This study explores concurrent and criterion validity of a Continuous Performance Test, the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks (IMT/DMT). Concurrent validity was examined through comparison with collateral measures of impulsivity, while criterion validity was assessed by comparison of groups with differing levels of impulsive behavior, those with and without disruptive behavior disorders (DBD). DBDs in the DSM-IV include conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, which are both largely characterized by impulsive behaviors. We compared group performance on the IMT/DMT and several collateral measures of impulsivity between adolescent controls (n = 22) and psychiatric inpatients with a DBD diagnosis (n = 22). Data collected indicated that (1) DBD patients emitted more commission errors; (2) commission errors, but not correct detections, were significantly correlated with collateral measures of impulsivity, and (3) in posthoc comparisons, those DBD patients with histories of physical fighting emitted the greatest number of commission errors, followed by DBD nonfighters, and then controls. Similar group performance differences were observed for collateral impulSivity measures. This study supports the use of commission error rates on the Immediate and Delayed Memory Tasks as a behavioral measure of impulsivity. With further development, objective measures like these may prove useful in clinical assessment procedures and in monitoring treatment outcome.

Behavioural and physiological correlates of impulsivity in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

“…Response inhibition models assess the subject"s ability to inhibit responding [20], [21], [22], and delayed reward models measure an animal"s choice between a small, immediate reinforcer, and a large, delayed reinforcer, assessing "impulsive choice", an index of impulsivity [23], [24]. Van den Bergh et al [25] investigated the relationship between response inhibition and delay aversion in rats, suggesting that response inhibition and delay aversion are independent measures of impulsivity, consistent with previous findings in humans [18].…”

“…At a behavioural level, definitions of impulsiveness in the human literature tend to focus on two themes; firstly, the ability to tolerate delay of gratification, or reward [17] and secondly, the inability to delay or inhibit voluntary behaviour in response to stimuli [18]. Laboratory models of impulsivity in non human animals also tend to focus on response inhibition and delayed reward paradigms [19].…”

A test of alcohol dose effects on multiple behavioral measures of impulsivity

“…The IMT is a modified Continuous Performance Task (CPT; Beck et al, 1956) that can be used to measure response initiation aspects of impulsivity (Dougherty and Marsh, 2003;Dougherty et al, 2002Dougherty et al, , 2003c. In this task, a series of 5-digit numbers (e.g., 38391) are displayed on a computer monitor in black and centered on a white background; each digit measures 2.0 cm wide by 3.3 cm high.…”

Behavioral measures of impulsivity and the law

“…Studies have found elevated response initiation impulsivity in adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders (Dougherty et al, 2003a(Dougherty et al, , 2003b(Dougherty et al, , 2007, and in adults with a childhood history of Conduct Disorder (Dougherty et al, 2000). These measures may also be sensitive to individual …”

“…Conduct Disorder is one of the disorders where impulsivity is especially prominent and severe (Gorenstein & Newman, 1980;Milich & Kramer, 1984;Moeller et al, 2001). Studies have shown how self-reported and behavioral impulsivity are increased among those with CD (Daderman, 1999;Dougherty et al, 2003aDougherty et al, , 2003bTranah, Harnett, & Yule, 1998). In the current study, we were interested in examining performance on the different behavioral measures of impulsivity and how this performance might vary as a function of age of CD onset.…”