Planning ability in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Abstract
Planning ability was investigated in 26 patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adulthood and in 27 control participants, with groups matched for age, predicted IQ, and social class. They were tested using the 3-dimensional computerized Tower of London Test (Morris, Ahmed, Syed, & Toone, 1993; Morris, Rushe, Woodruffe, & Murray, 1995), which measures planning latencies as well as accuracy, with problems increasing in graded difficulty. For the control group, planning latencies increased systematically with task difficulty, with the participants slowing their initial responses to ensure accuracy. For those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, there was no increase in planning time and a corresponding diminution in accuracy on the most difficult problems. This pattern of impairment is interpreted as resulting from failure to inhibit responses when confronted with problem solving, leading to reduced planning activity.
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Executive dysfunction, particularly deficits in working memory, planning, and cognitive flexibility, emerges as a central explanatory factor for occupational impairments in ADHD.
“Executive dysfunction, particularly deficits in working memory, planning, and cognitive flexibility, emerges as a central explanatory factor [10,196,197].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [196]
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“Executive dysfunction, particularly deficits in working memory, planning, and cognitive flexibility, emerges as a central explanatory factor [10,196,197].”
- Authors
- Young, S., Morris, R., Toone, B., & Tyson, C.
- Affiliations
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University of Hertfordshire (GB)
- Venue
- Neuropsychology
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 581-589
- ISSN
- 0894-4105 (ISSN-L)
- 1931-1559
- OpenAlex
- W2046307282
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuropsychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (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
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, adult ADHD, planning skills, Tower of London, response inhibition, problem solving, planning accuracy, executive function
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Problem Solving, Reaction Time, Sex Factors, Task Performance and Analysis, Case-Control Studies
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