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Comparative Study
. 2009 Mar;12(5):410-21.
doi: 10.1177/1087054708315065. Epub 2008 Apr 9.

Vigilance and sustained attention in children and adults with ADHD

Affiliations
Comparative Study

Vigilance and sustained attention in children and adults with ADHD

Lara Tucha et al. J Atten Disord. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: The present article tests the hypothesis of a sustained attention deficit in children and adults suffering from ADHD.

Method: Vigilance and sustained attention of 52 children with ADHD and 38 adults with ADHD were assessed using a computerized vigilance task. Furthermore, the attentional performance of healthy children (N = 52) and healthy adults (N = 38) was examined.

Results: Children and adults with ADHD performed significantly less well in the vigilance task than healthy participants (main effect for group). Furthermore, children and adults showed a significant decrease of performance over time (time-on-task effects). However, there was no greater decrement of performance with the passage of time in patient groups than in control groups (group-by-time interaction).

Conclusion: The present results do not support the hypothesis of a sustained attention deficit in children and adults with ADHD.

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