Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Neuropsychological Functioning

Creque, Chava A.; Willcutt, Erik G.

doi:10.1007/s10802-021-00810-3

Cited by 46Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Neuropsychological Functioning

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Creque, Chava A., Willcutt, Erik G.·2021·Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

DOI 10.1007/s10802-021-00810-3PMC PMC8846551

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Abstract

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is marked by impairments across social, emotional, and academic functioning, but few studies have examined the association between SCT and neuropsychological functioning. The present study examined the associations between SCT and measures of processing speed, executive function, attention, and reaction time. From a larger sample of 8,238 children and adolescents, a subsample of 928 children were overselected for symptoms of SCT or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and compared to a matched control sample of 652 individuals without elevations of ADHD or SCT (age range = 5.9-15.4 years). Multiple regression analyses revealed that symptoms of SCT were independently associated with deficits in nearly all domains assessed by a battery of neuropsychological assessments, including slower processing speed, poorer working memory, decreased inhibition, poorer vigilance, and increased reaction time. Further, weaknesses in all five of these domains remained significant even after symptoms of ADHD-inattention, anxiety, and depression were controlled. These findings add to literature that supports the validity of SCT as a symptom profile separate from ADHD-inattention symptoms.

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CDS is distinct from ADHD, as shown by different structures, phenomenology, neuropsychological profiles, and correlates.
“Still, research has shown that CDS is unique from ADHD, as evidenced by many studies documenting different structures and phenomenology [2, 10, 11], neuropsychological profiles [10, 12-14], and correlates”
From Pharmacologic Management of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Implications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: Emerging Treatments and Recommendations for Future Research (2023) · cites this paper as [14]
There is some evidence that individuals with elevated CDS symptoms make more omission errors on sustained attention tasks, though not all studies support this association.
“There is some evidence that individuals exhibiting elevated CDS symptoms make more omission errors on sustained attention tasks [2, 10, 14, 39, 44], though again, not all studies have found support for this association [29].”
From Pharmacologic Management of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Implications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: Emerging Treatments and Recommendations for Future Research (2023) · cites this paper as [14]
Studies in early childhood generally showed weak associations between CDS and slowed processing speed, while studies of older children and adults had mixed findings.
“Other evidence to support a link between CDS and a slowed processing speed comes from studies in early childhood [30, 31, 33] that generally showed weak associations, whereas studies of older children and adults have had mixed findings [10, 13, 14, 29, 32-40].”
From Pharmacologic Management of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Implications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: Emerging Treatments and Recommendations for Future Research (2023) · cites this paper as [14]
People with cognitive disengagement syndrome may be prone to errors in signal detection.
“individuals with CDS may have a propensity toward signal detection errors [2, 10, 14, 39, 44]”
From Pharmacologic Management of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Implications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: Emerging Treatments and Recommendations for Future Research (2023) · cites this paper as [14]
Bupropion may address CDS-related signal detection deficits by reducing omission errors.
“This includes potentially addressing CDS-related deficits in signal detection by reducing errors of omission [2, 10, 14, 39, 44, 71]”
From Pharmacologic Management of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Implications for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: Emerging Treatments and Recommendations for Future Research (2023) · cites this paper as [14]

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Sluggish Cognitive Tempo In A Pediatric Population
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Authors: Creque, C. A., & Willcutt, E. G.
Affiliations: University of Colorado Boulder (US)
Corresponding author: Creque, Chava A.
ORCID: Willcutt, Erik G.
Venue: Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2021-03-23
Volume: 49
Issue: 8
Pages: 1001-1013
ISSN: 0091-0627 (ISSN-L)
2730-7166
2730-7174
DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00810-3
PMC: PMC8846551
OpenAlex: W3137972425
Cited by: 46
References: 56
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 1
FWCI: 4.84
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
www.springer.com/tdm (vor)
Locations: Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH063941, R01MH062120)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P50HD027802)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords: sluggish cognitive tempo, neuropsychological performance, processing speed, executive function, attention, reaction time, working memory, inhibition, sustained attention, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, children and adolescents, anxiety, depression
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Executive Function

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Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Neuropsychological Functioning

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