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Cited by 80Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Relationships between neuropsychological measures of executive function and behavioral measures of ADHD symptoms and comorbid behavior

JONSDOTTIR, S, BOUMA, A, SERGEANT, J, SCHERDER, E·2006·Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
DOI 10.1016/j.acn.2006.05.003
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between executive functions (EFs), as measured by neuropsychological tests, and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbid behavior, as rated by parents and teachers. As intelligence and language ability are important covariates they were also assessed. METHOD: The sample consisted of 43 children aged 7-11 years who were referred for neuropsychological assessment at a tertiary clinical facility. Most of the children had the diagnosis of ADHD combined or inattentive type. Different aspects of EFs were assessed. RESULTS: EFs were not significantly related to symptoms of ADHD, but only to comorbid symptoms of depression and autistic symptomatology. Language ability rather than EFs best predicted teacher ratings of inattention. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study do not support the EF theory of ADHD. The importance of screening for comorbid language disorders in children referred for ADHD is emphasized.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.acn.2006.05.003

Cites

68 of 68 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

9 of 75 cited sources checked · 4 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisereasoning

    Teachers may be better informants of neuropsychological problems in children than parents.

    “These results are similar to those of previous studies (e.g.Oosterlaan et al., 2005) emphasizing that teachers may be better informants of neuropsychological problems in children than parents.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Oosterlaan et al., 2005 source

      The Discussion (p. 13) reports that teacher-rated AD/HD, unlike parent-rated AD/HD, significantly predicted performance on executive-function tasks, with one exception. This supports the comparison for AD/HD-related executive-function deficits, but not the broader claim about neuropsychological problems in children generally. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Language impairment is highly prevalent in children with psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems.

    “Language impairment (LI) is highly prevalent in children with psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Cohen et al., 1998 source
    • cites Cohen et al., 2000 source
  • Premisecitation

    The most common psychiatric diagnosis of children with language impairment is ADHD.

    “The most common psychiatric diagnosis of children with LI is ADHD”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Cohen et al., 1998 source
    • cites Cohen et al., 2000 source
  • Premisecitation

    Children with high functioning autism have more general and severe executive function deficits than children with ADHD.

    “Children with high functioning autism (HFA) have been shown to have more general and severe EF deficits”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Geurts et al., 2004 source

      The available indexed passages contain bibliographic information but no findings comparing executive-function deficits in children with high-functioning autism and ADHD. Searches for the claimed difference in severity and generality returned no substantive passage, so our copy cannot verify it. (LLM, conf=0.74)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Pennington & Ozonoff, 1996 source
  • Findingown data

    Teacher Rating Scale Atypicality and Depression subscales were best predicted by performance on the Tower test.

    “Table 6 shows that the TRS Atypicality and Depression subscales were best predicted by performance on the Tower test.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 24
  • May combine two claims. 13
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Measures of executive function tend to correlate with IQ.

    “It has been demonstrated previously that measures of EF tend to correlate with IQ”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Arffa et al., 1998 source

      The Discussion (page not provided) reports that WCST performance was significantly related to IQ in the study’s above-average and superior-IQ children. But the paper examines one executive-function test in a specific group and describes the broader evidence on executive-function tests and IQ as sparse and inconsistent; it does not establish that such measures generally tend to correlate with IQ. (LLM, conf=0.87)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Harrier & Deornellas, 2005 source
    • cites Mahone et al., 2002 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Oosterlaan et al. (2005) found relationships between teacher-rated ADHD and performance on executive function tests.

    “Our findings contrast with those of Oosterlaan et al. (2005), who found relationships between teacher rated ADHD and performance on EF tests.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Oosterlaan et al., 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Joseph et al. (2005) showed that the NEPSY Tower test was significantly related to language ability in normal children but not in children with autism.

    “A recent study by Joseph, McGrath, and Tager-Flusberg (2005) showed, that the NEPSY Tower test was significantly related to language ability in normal children but not in children with autism.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Joseph et al., 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    ADHD and autism often co-occur.

    “Studies have shown that ADHD and autism often co-occur”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Geurts, Verté, Oosterlaan, Roeyers, & Sergeant, 2004 source

      The supplied passages contain bibliographic information rather than findings about co-occurrence. Searches of the indexed copy for co-occurrence, comorbidity, and diagnostic overlap returned no passage addressing how often ADHD and autism occur together. (LLM, conf=0.72)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Sturm, Fernell, & Gillberg, 2004

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Previous research has shown a strong relationship between IQ and executive function.

    “These findings are in line with previous research that has shown a strong relationship between IQ and EF (Arffa et al., 1998;Harrier & Deornellas, 2005;Mahone et al., 2002).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Arffa et al., 1998 source

      The Discussion reports that IQ was significantly related to several Wisconsin Card Sorting Test measures in above-average and gifted children. But the paper studies one executive-function test in that population and says the broader IQ–executive-function literature is sparse and inconsistent; it does not establish a strong relationship across executive functions generally. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Harrier & Deornellas, 2005 source
    • cites Mahone et al., 2002 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    The clinical group had an average full-scale IQ.

    “The results also showed that the clinical group has an average full-scale IQ.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    When IQ was controlled, teacher-rated Anxiety and Atypicality were significantly negatively related to the Visual Attention test (r = -.34, p = .05 and r = -.34, p = .04).

    “Teacher rated Anxiety and Atypicality was significantly and negatively related to Visual Attention (r = -.34,p = .05and r = -.34,p = .04)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The clinical group's Sequential Processing score was lower than expected, while its Simultaneous Processing score was higher than expected.

    “However, the Sequential Processing score of the clinical group is lower than the expected group's mean, but the Simultaneous Processing score of this group is higher than expected.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    When IQ was controlled, teacher-rated Withdrawal was significantly negatively related to verbal working memory (r = -.37, p = .02).

    “teacher rated Withdrawal was significantly and negatively related to verbal WM (r = -.37,p = .02).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    When IQ was controlled, on the Parent Rating Scale Conduct Problems were significantly negatively related to Visual Attention (r = -.38, p = .02), and Atypicality was significantly negatively related to verbal working memory (r = -.35, p = .03).

    “On the PRS Conduct Problems were significantly and negatively related to Visual Attention (r = -.38,p = .02),and Atypicality was significantly and negatively related to verbal WM (r = -.35,p = .03).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The different executive functions were significantly related to all IQ measures, except that Visual Attention was not related to Sequential Processing.

    “Moreover, the different EF functions were significantly related to all IQ measures, except the Visual Attention test was not related to the Sequential Processing scale.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The clinical group scored lower than expected on the Tower test, the Visual Attention test, and verbal working memory.

    “The results showed that the clinical group scored lower than expected on the Tower test, the Visual Attention test, and on verbal WM.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    All three measures of executive function were significantly related to IQ, except the Visual Attention test, which was not significantly related to the Sequential Processing scale of the K-ABC.

    “All three measures of EF were significantly related to IQ, except the Visual Attention test, which was not significantly related to the Sequential Processing scale of the K-ABC.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The BASC measures inattention symptoms and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms on two separate scales.

    “One advantage of the BASC, compared to other similar broadband behavioral instruments, is that it measures inattention symptoms and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms on two separate scales.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Most recent neuropsychological theories have targeted deficient executive function as the main characteristic of ADHD.

    “most recent neuropsychological theories have targeted deficient executive function (EF) as being the main characteristic of the disorder”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Barkley, 1997 source
    • cites Pennington & Ozonoff, 1996 source
    • cites Willcutt et al., 2005 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Executive function deficits are prevalent in ADHD populations but are neither necessary nor sufficient to cause all cases of ADHD.

    “while EF deficits are prevalent in ADHD populations, they are”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Willcutt et al., 2005 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Neuropsychological impairment is mainly related to inattention but not to hyperactivity/impulsivity in children with ADHD.

    “research has shown that neuropsychological impairment is mainly related to inattention but not to hyperactivity/impulsivity in children with ADHD”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Chhabildas et al., 2001 source
    • cites Harrier & Deornellas, 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The BASC Icelandic-language version has internal consistency coefficients ranging from .52 to .90 for the Parent Rating Scale child form and from .69 to .93 for the Teacher Rating Scale child form.

    “Internal consistency coefficients (Kjartansdottir, 2002) for the BASC Icelandic-language version of the PRS child form range from .52 (Atypicality) to .90 (Depression).The TRS child form correspondingly has coefficients that range from .69 (Withdrawal) to .93 (Aggression).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kjartansdottir, 2002

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Premisecitation

    It is a stronger case when executive function differences exist after taking IQ into account.

    “It has been argued that it is a stronger case when EF differences exist after taking IQ into account”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sergeant et al., 2002 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Marks et al. (2005) found no relations between performance on executive measures and objective indices of activity level or ratings of ADHD symptoms.

    “They found no relations between performance on executive measures and objective indices of activity level or ratings of ADHD symptoms.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Marks et al., 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Research has demonstrated the usefulness of the BASC in the diagnostic process of ADHD and shown that it is especially well suited in differentiating between subtypes of ADHD.

    “Research has demonstrated the usefulness of the BASC in the diagnostic process of ADHD and shown that it is especially well suited in differentiating between subtypes of ADHD”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Jarratt et al., 2005 source
    • cites Ostrander et al., 1998 source
    • cites Vaughn et al., 1997 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The NEPSY is validated for use with children diagnosed with learning disabilities, ADHD, autistic disorders, and speech and language impairment.

    “It has been validated for use with children diagnosed with learning disabilities, ADHD, autistic disorders, and speech and language impairment”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Korkman et al., 1998

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Performance on the Tower of London test relies to a large extent on the functioning of the frontostriatal system.

    “Studies have suggested that performance on the ToL relies to a large extent on the functioning of the frontostriatal system”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Beauchamp et al., 2003 source
    • cites Owen, 1997 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Executive function deficits in ADHD may be indicative of possible autistic and/or depressive symptomatology.

    “Taken together, our findings suggest that EF deficits in ADHD may be indicative of possible autistic and/or depressive symptomatology.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Lewis et al. (2003) showed a positive relationship between verbal working memory and performance on the Tower of London test in patients with Parkinson's disease.

    “Lewis et al. (2003) showed a positive relationship between verbal WM and performance on the Tower of London test in patients with Parkinson's disease.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lewis et al., 2003 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Sarkis et al. (2005) found that comorbid disorders did not have a significant effect on performance of executive function.

    “Sarkis et al. found that comorbid disorders did not have a significant effect on performance of EF.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sarkis et al., 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The frontostriatal system is involved in the performance of the towers tests.

    “which in turn has been shown to be involved in the performance of the towers tests”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Dagher, Owen, Boecker, & Brooks, 2001

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites van den Heuvel et al., 2003 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In young patients with unipolar major depression, compared to controls, the depressive group displayed impaired subsequent movement latencies on the Tower of London task.

    “Among their findings was that, compared to controls, the depressive group displayed impaired subsequent movement latencies on the ToL task.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Purcell, Maruff, Kyrios, and Pantelis (1997) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Depressed patients were just as accurate as controls on planning tasks.

    “although they were just as accurate”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Goethals et al. (2005) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Childhood autism, depression and ADHD often co-occur.

    “Childhood autism, depression and ADHD are all neurodevelopmental disorders that often co-occur”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bradshaw & Sheppard, 2000 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    ADHD children with comorbid mood disorders took more moves to solve a Tower of London problem than other children.

    “those children with comorbid mood disorders took more moves to solve a ToL problem than other children”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sarkis et al. (2005) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Childhood autism, depression and ADHD have all been associated with dysfunction of the frontostriatal system.

    “have all been associated with dysfunction of the frontostriatal system”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bradshaw & Sheppard, 2000 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Depressed patients spent more time thinking than controls on planning tasks.

    “compared to controls, they spent more time thinking”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Goethals et al. (2005) source
33 of 33

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Parent and teacher ratings on the BASC have not thus far been examined in relation to performance on executive function tasks.

    “To our knowledge, parent and teacher ratings on the BASC have not thus far been examined in relation to performance on EF tasks.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    This is the first study on the relationship between executive functions and ADHD symptoms using broadband behavioral ratings that separate inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.

    “This is the first study on this relationship using broadband behavioral ratings that separate inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    ADHD is highly comorbid with other disorders, mainly externalizing disorders like oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, internalizing disorders like anxiety and depression, and language related disorders like dyslexia and language impairment.

    “ADHD is highly comorbid with other disorders, mainly externalizing disorders like oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD), internalizing disorders like anxiety and depression and language related disorders like dyslexia and language impairment (LI).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The three subtypes of ADHD have differing types and degrees of comorbidity.

    “Research has shown that the three subtypes of ADHD have differing types and degrees of comorbidity.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is often considerable lack of agreement between the various behavioral and cognitive measures conventionally used in the diagnostic process of children with ADHD.

    “research has shown that there is often considerable lack of agreement between the various behavioral and cognitive measures conventionally used in the diagnostic process of children with ADHD.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Conners' behavioral rating scale does not differentiate between inattention symptoms and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.

    “The Conners' behavioral rating scale used in their study, does not, for example, differentiate between inattention symptoms and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Language disorders are not generally screened for in the ADHD diagnostic process.

    “It is somewhat surprising that in spite of the fact that language disorders are so frequently associated with ADHD, they are not generally screened for in its diagnostic process.”
7 of 7

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • IQ-adjusted conduct-problems correlation differs from Table 5

    Minor

    The results give the IQ-adjusted correlation between parent-rated Conduct Problems and Visual Attention as −.38, whereas Table 5 reports −.32 for the same pairing.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

8 of the 76 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [23]23. Hannesdottir, H. (2002). Studies on child and adolescent mental health in Iceland Doctoral dissertation. Turku University.
  2. [33]33. Kjartansdottir, S. H. (2002). Próffræðilegir eiginleikar BASC hegðunarmatskvarðanna (Psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). Unpublished thesis. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Iceland.

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Authors
JONSDOTTIR, S., BOUMA, A., SERGEANT, J., & SCHERDER, E.
Affiliations
  • University of Groningen (NL)
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2006-08
Volume
21
Issue
5
Pages
383-394
ISSN
0887-6177 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.acn.2006.05.003
OpenAlex
W2151105956
Semantic Scholar
3b7f46b282bcdc1115b857351a6fbc4133695da6
Cited by
78
References
76
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
FWCI
3.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • Hirsla (Landspítali University Hospital) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
executive function, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, autism symptoms, language skills, inattention, children, parent and teacher ratings
MeSH terms
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Faculty, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Language Development, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Parents, Problem Solving, Regression Analysis, Verbal Behavior, Comorbidity, Conduct Disorder

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