Response Inhibition Of Children With And Without Adhd...

Ornstein, T., Max, J., Schachar, R., Dennis, M., Barnes, M., Ewing-Cobbs, L., Levin, H. (2013). Response inhibition in children with and without ADHD after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neuropsychology, 7(1), 1-11. doi:10.1111/j.1748-6653.2012.02027.x Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) share many of the same symptoms and in some cases, ADHD is even a consequence of TBI. This is known as secondary ADHD (S-ADHD). Likely due to impaired frontostriatal systems, we see a similarities in children with ADHD, S-ADHD, and TBI. Ornstein et. al. (2013) compared children with ADHD and those with TBI that did not have pre-injury ADHD on their performance on a stop signal paradigm (SSP), response†¦show more content†¦Ornstein et. al. (2013) seek to answer three critical questions. First, is the magnitude of inhibitory control deficits similar when looking at developmental and acquired forms of ADHD. Second, is TBI itself associated with inhibitory control deficits, or do we only see these deficits in those whom suffered a TBI and have been diagnosed with S-ADHD. And finally, does the magnitude of response inhibition deficits vary with the severity of the TBI. When testing the subjects, ch ildren with developmental ADHD that were being treated with medication had the medication withheld for 48 hours before testing to eliminate the effects of the medication on their cognitive performance. It is also important to note that none of the children with S-ADHD were medicated at the time of the study. The diagnostic criteria used to diagnose ADHD was via the DSM-IV. The severity of subjects whom had suffered a TBI were based on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), commonly used to diagnose severity of brain injury. To determine S-ADHD, the researchers used the Ontario Child Health Survey Scales-Revised (OCHS-R), which was completed by both parents and teachers of the children involved in the study, focusing on the behaviors exhibited over the past six months. The subjects than used the SSP test to determine their speed when executing and voluntarily inhibiting a motor response. It involved two concurrent tasks which gauge reaction time as well as accuracy.