Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Hale Martin
Second Advisor
Apryl Alexander
Third Advisor
Joy Goldberg
Keywords
Neuropsychology, Pediatric, Inattention, Anxiety, ADHD, Executive functioning
Abstract
This study examined the differences in inattention and executive function between a group of children diagnosed with ADHD and a group diagnosed with anxiety disorders to establish differential profiles for these two disorders. This study evaluated the differences among children with ADHD and anxiety disorders, using parent-report and performance-based measures of inattention and anxiety. A retrospective chart review was completed for a total of 58 patients who met the criteria for an anxiety disorder or for ADHD-C and ADHD-I at the completion of the neuropsychological assessment. Analyses compared the ADHD group and the Anxiety group on select scales and subscales of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF), Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), and Conners Continuous Performance (CPT) via an independent samples t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with age included as a covariate. The ADHD group demonstrated deficits in attention, processing speed, and efficiency, whereas the Anxiety group did not demonstrate these deficits. Moreover, significant differences exist with respect to profiles of inattention and executive functioning abilities between children with ADHD and anxiety. Findings provide support for distinct profiles of inattention and executive functioning abilities between children with ADHD and those with anxiety. The CPT is also supported as a useful tool in the differentiation of the two presentations.
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Publication Statement
Copyright held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Extent
35 pgs
Recommended Citation
Stapleton, Emily, "The Utility of Neuropsychological Measures on the Differential Diagnosis of ADHD-inattentive Type Versus Anxiety in a Pediatric Outpatient Behavioral Health Population" (2019). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 358.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/358
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons