Validity of the Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Symptom Dimension in Children: Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and ADHD-Inattention as Distinct Symptom Dimensions

Abstract

This study examined the validity of the sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptom dimension in children. Ten symptom domains were used to define SCT (i.e., (1) daydreams; (2) attention fluctuates; (3) absent-minded; (4) loses train of thought; (5) easily confused; (6) seems drowsy; (7) thinking is slow; (8) slow-moving; (9) low initiative; and (10) easily bored, needs stimulation). Teacher ratings of 366 children (ages 5 to 13 with 56 % girls) along with parent ratings of 703 children (ages 5 to 13 with 55 % girls) indicated that SCT symptom domains one to eight showed convergent validity (i.e., substantial loadings on the SCT factor) and discriminant validity with the ADHD-IN dimension (i.e., higher loadings on the SCT factor than the ADHD-IN factor). Higher scores on this eight-symptom measure of SCT predicted lower levels of academic and social competence even after controlling for ADHD-IN and ADHD-HI. In addition, higher SCT scores still predicted higher anxiety/depression scores after controlling for ADHD-IN and ADHD-HI. Higher SCT scores also predicted lower ADHD-HI scores after controlling for ADHD-IN and anxiety/depression while higher ADHD-IN and anxiety/depression scores predicted higher ADHD-HI scores after controlling for SCT and anxiety/depression or ADHD-IN. SCT also showed a unique negative relationship with ODD while ADHD-IN and anxiety/depression showed unique positive relationships with ODD. This new measure of the SCT dimension was meaningfully independent from the ADHD-IN and anxiety/depression dimensions and suggests that such an SCT dimension may signify a distinct presentation of ADHD or a different (if highly comorbid) disorder altogether.

RETRACTED: Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, Internalizing Symptoms, and Executive Function in Adults With ADHD

“…This finding was confirmed in metaanalysis (Becker et al, 2016). However, SCT does appear to co-occur with internalizing disorders in children with a greater frequency than does ADHD alone (Garner et al, 2010;Lee et al, 2014;Willcutt et al, 2014). Furthermore, the presence of SCT predicted internalizing symptoms and social problems even after controlling for its association with ADHD symptomatology (Becker & Langberg, 2013;Marshall, Evans, Eiraldi, Becker, & Power, 2014).…”

“…A recent meta-analysis, considering 23 independent studies including 19,000 participants has confirmed that SCT constitutes a factor distinct both from the ADHD inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptom dimensions (Becker et al, 2016). In addition, and as predicted given the nature of the symptoms, SCT has been shown in several studies in children and in a recent metaanalysis to correlate more highly with the inattentive than the hyperactive-impulsive dimension of ADHD (Becker et al, 2016;Frick et al, 1994;Lee et al, 2014).…”

“…Subsequent research partially corroborated these results, establishing that symptoms of SCT, as rated by parents and teachers, emerged as a separate, third factor when entered into analyses that included ratings of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms of ADHD (Becker, Langberg, Luebbe, Dvorsky, & Flannery, 2014;Garner, Marceaux, Mrug, Patterson, & Hodgens, 2010;Lee, Burns, Snell, & McBurnett, 2014;Willcutt et al, 2014). A recent meta-analysis, considering 23 independent studies including 19,000 participants has confirmed that SCT constitutes a factor distinct both from the ADHD inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptom dimensions (Becker et al, 2016).…”

El tempo cognitivo lento: Revisión de un constructo [Sluggish cognitive tempo: Review of a construct]

“…Sin embargo, estos autores sugieren realizar más estudios en las que se pueda extender la replicación de la escala a poblaciones clínicas de niños para determinar su validez. Siguiendo esta recomendación, McBurnett et al (2010) (Lee et al, 2013) y en la actualidad está siendo adaptada al español en un proyecto de investigación compartido por investigadores de la Universidad de Las Islas Baleares, la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid y la Washington State University [Estudio del Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT)] en un diseño longitudinal para mejorar la conceptualización del trastorno de défi cit de atención e hiperactividad» (PSI201 1-23254). El objetivo fi nal de este proyecto es poder aportar los sufi cientes datos empíricos para poder defi nir un trastorno de défi cit de atención puro, con entidad y criterios propios de forma que pudieran ser contemplados en las siguientes clasificaciones diagnósticas.…”

“…Varios estudios hallan correlaciones signifi cativas entre TCL y medidas de ansiedad/depresión, conductas evitativas y medidas de internalización, altos niveles de infelicidad/ (Beck y Rostain, 2006;Becker y Langberg, 2012;Capdevila-Brophy et al, 2012;Carlson y Mann, 2002, Lee et al, 2013 y problemas sociales en los adolescentes (Becker y Langberg, 2012). En un estudio reciente en una muestra de niños de entre 6-17 años (Barkley 2012), halla de forma específi ca mayores correlaciones entre depresión y TCL.…”