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Cited by 193Developmental and Educational NeuropsychologyAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Recent Developments in Neuropsychological Models of Childhood Psychiatric Disorders

Willcutt, Erik G., Sonuga-Barke, Edmund J.S., Nigg, Joel T., Sergeant, Joseph A.·2008·Advances in Biological Psychiatry
DOI 10.1159/000118526
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Abstract

The number of studies on the neuropsychology of childhood disorders has increased exponentially over the past decade. We report the results of an initial meta-analysis of key neuropsychological constructs included in studies of nine of the most prevalent childhood disorders. Results indicated that the neuropsychological etiologies of each of these disorders are complex and multifactorial. No single deficit is necessary or sufficient to explain all cases of any disorder, but preliminary evidence suggests that disorders may be distinguished by profiles across multiple neuropsychological processes. Slow processing speed and increased response variability are ubiquitous across disorders, but somewhat distinct profiles emerge on different aspects of executive functions. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Tourette’s disorder are most strongly associated with inhibitory difficulties, whereas difficulties with cognitive flexibility are most pronounced in groups with autism spectrum disorders and childhood-onset schizophrenia. Working memory difficulties are significant in most groups, but these weaknesses are largest in groups with learning disorders and childhood-onset schizophrenia. Future research is needed to clarify further the relations among these heterogeneous diagnostic phenotypes and complex neuropsychological processes to facilitate studies that link these weaknesses to specific etiological risk factors.

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Crossref · 10.1159/000118526

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40 of 40 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Impairment has been found in hot EF functions of motivation control and reward-related decision making, as measured in temporal discounting and gambling tasks, with more inconsistent findings.

    “However, impairment has also been found in so-called “hot” EF functions of motivation control and reward-related decision making, as measured in temporal discounting and gambling tasks, with, however, more inconsistent findings (Willcutt et al., 2008; Noreika et al., 2013; Plichta and Scheres, 2014).”

    From Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Its Clinical Translation (2018) · cites this paper as Willcutt et al., 2008

  • Willcutt and colleagues' meta-analysis found a large effect size (Cohen's d 1.0-1.5) for the difference in cognitive flexibility between individuals with autism and typically developing groups.

    “Willcutt and colleagues [12] demonstrated, in their meta-analysis, a large effect size (Cohen’s d between 1.0 and 1.5) for the difference in ‘cognitive flexibility’ between individuals with autism compared to typically developing groups.”

    From The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism (2009) · cites this paper as [12]

  • A meta-analysis by Willcutt and colleagues found mild cognitive flexibility difficulties in ADHD (Cohen's d .01-0.3).

    “However, according to a recent meta-analysis of Willcutt and colleagues [12], people with ADHD do experience mild difficulties in this domain (effect size [Cohen’s d] was .01–0.3, which is small).”

    From The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism (2009) · cites this paper as [12]

  • ADHD is well established to involve severe cognitive control difficulties, yet cognitive flexibility does not seem to be a core deficit.

    “It is well established that people with ADHD encounter various severe cognitive control difficulties [57], but cognitive flexibility does not seem to be a key deficit [4,12,26,57,67].”

    From The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism (2009) · cites this paper as [12]

  • ADHD patients consistently prefer smaller-immediate over larger delayed rewards using the choice-delay paradigm.

    “ADHD patients consistently prefer smaller-immediate over larger delayed rewards using the choice-delay paradigm (Willcutt et al, 2008)”

    From DAT1 and COMT effects on delay discounting and trait impulsivity in male adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and healthy controls (2010) · cites this paper as Willcutt et al, 2008

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Authors
Willcutt, E. G., Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S., Nigg, J. T., & Sergeant, J. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Advances in Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
KARGER
Published
2008
Pages
195-226
DOI
10.1159/000118526
OpenAlex
W2167951976
Semantic Scholar
ef3a5c45ca88e12cca8d18ad376ad84f58e5da40
Cited by
193
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 14
FWCI
27.33
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • KARGER eBooks (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
child psychopathology, neuropsychological model, processing speed, response variability, executive function, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, working memory, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, childhood schizophrenia, learning disabilities, neuropsychological profile, etiology

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