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Cited by 11Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderPsychological Testing and AssessmentDevelopmental and Educational Neuropsychology

Effects of diurnal variation on the Test of Variables of Attention performance in young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Hunt, Melissa G., Bienstock, Solomon W., Qiang, Judy Kexin·2012·Psychological Assessment
DOI 10.1037/a0025233
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Abstract

The Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) is a continuous performance test that assesses attention, impulsivity, and processing speed. Continuous performance tests are used in the assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. TOVA norms are based on a morning administration, and any TOVA administered after 1:00 p.m. is flagged as potentially invalid. Whereas the testing time recommendations make sense for pediatric samples, it is unclear whether they are appropriate for young adults, who typically show significant phase delay in their diurnal rhythms. The current study explores the impact of time of day on TOVA performance in young adults with ADHD. Participants were randomly assigned to either morning or afternoon administration. We found no significant diurnal variation in TOVA performance. We also found no interaction between diurnal preference and time of day of administration. Night owls endorsed more inattention symptoms on a self-report measure than more intermediate individuals but actually made significantly fewer omission (inattention) errors on the TOVA. Self-reported symptoms of inattention showed moderate, significant correlations with various TOVA performance indices. Self-reported symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, however, showed no relationship to TOVA performance. These results suggest that the TOVA can be administered to adults with ADHD outside of the hours recommended in the manual without significantly compromising the interpretative validity of test score interpretation. Thus, a TOVA report that is consistent with ADHD should not be dismissed simply because it was administered in the late afternoon.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0025233

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  • In 55 young adults with ADHD, the test of variables of attention applied in the morning and late afternoon indicates no time-of-day effect on performance on this test.

    “Hunt and colleagues (2012) report that for one such cohort, the test of variables of attention, applied to 55 young adults with ADHD in the morning and the late afternoon, indicates that there is no time-of-day effect on performance on this test.”

    From A systematic review of circadian function, chronotype and chronotherapy in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (2017) · cites this paper as Hunt et al. 2012

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Authors
Hunt, M. G., Bienstock, S. W., & Qiang, J. K.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Assessment
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2012-03
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
166-172
ISSN
  • 1040-3590 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-134X
DOI
10.1037/a0025233
OpenAlex
W2109448984
Cited by
11
References
46
Citations by year
2024: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Assessment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
TOVA Company
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Test of Variables of Attention, diurnal variation, time of day, young adults, continuous performance test, diurnal preference, night owls, inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, self-reported symptoms
MeSH terms
Adult, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Circadian Rhythm, False Positive Reactions, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Malingering, Neuropsychological Tests, Psychomotor Performance, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reaction Time, Time Factors, Young Adult

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