Neuropsychological Performance Patterns of Adult ADHD Subtypes
Abstract
Objective: Neuropsychological performance patterns associated with adult ADHD subtypes are unknown. The aim of the current systematic review was to identify and synthesize available literature regarding neuropsychological performance associated with adult ADHD subtypes. Method: Searches were completed using the databases PsycINFO and PubMed for studies published before March 2017 addressing adult ADHD subtypes and neuropsychological performance. Data characterizing the neuropsychological tests utilized in each study were obtained and sorted into eight domains. To summarize the results of all comparisons (ADHD subtype compared with control, or to each other), we counted the proportion of tests within each domain with significant group differences. Results/Conclusion: We deemed four domains informative in differentiating ADHD subtypes from controls. Of these, memory was the only domain that held promise in distinguishing ADHD-Inattentive and ADHD-Combined. Limitations of the available literature are highlighted and recommendations for future research are provided.
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The inattentive presentation comprises about 31% of adult ADHD cases, and the pure hyperactive-impulsive presentation only about 7%.
“The inattentive presentation comprises about 31% of adult cases, and the pure hyperactive–impulsive presentation only about 7% [90].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [90]
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“With regard to subtype-specific cognitive correlates, we found a quantitative differentiation of cognitive profiles among ADHD subtypes regardless of WISC-IV domains in line with previous works [7, 44, 45].”
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- Authors
- LeRoy, A., Jacova, C., & Young, C.
- Affiliations
- Pacific University Oregon (US)
- Corresponding author
- Jacova, Claudia
- ORCID
- Jacova, Claudia
- Venue
- Journal of Attention Disorders
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-05-17
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1136-1147
- ISSN
- 1087-0547 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1246
- OpenAlex
- W2804441755
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 3.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Attention Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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
- adult ADHD, ADHD subtypes, neuropsychological performance, cognitive domain, memory, neuropsychological assessment, diagnostic differentiation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Memory Disorders, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Perception, Thinking, Young Adult, Executive Function
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