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Are changes in ADHD course reflected in differences in IQ and executive functioning from childhood to young adulthood?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Agnew-Blais, JC; Polanczyk, GV; Danese, A; Wertz, J; Moffitt, TE; Arseneault, L
Published in: Psychological medicine
December 2020

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with poorer cognitive functioning. We used a developmental, genetically-sensitive approach to examine intelligence quotient (IQ) from early childhood to young adulthood among those with different ADHD courses to investigate whether changes in ADHD were reflected in differences in IQ. We also examined executive functioning in childhood and young adulthood among different ADHD courses.Study participants were part of the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a population-based birth cohort of 2232 twins. We assessed ADHD in childhood (ages 5, 7, 10 and 12) and young adulthood (age 18). We examined ADHD course as reflected by remission, persistence and late-onset. IQ was evaluated at ages 5, 12 and 18, and executive functioning at ages 5 and 18.ADHD groups showed deficits in IQ across development compared to controls; those with persistent ADHD showed the greatest deficit, followed by remitted and late-onset. ADHD groups did not differ from controls in developmental trajectory of IQ, suggesting changes in ADHD were not reflected in IQ. All ADHD groups performed more poorly on executive functioning tasks at ages 5 and 18; persisters and remitters differed only on an inhibitory control task at age 18.Differences in ADHD course - persistence, remission and late-onset - were not directly reflected in changes in IQ. Instead, having ADHD at any point across development was associated with lower average IQ and poorer executive functioning. Our finding that individuals with persistent ADHD have poorer response inhibition than those who remitted requires replication.

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Published In

Psychological medicine

DOI

EISSN

1469-8978

ISSN

0033-2917

Publication Date

December 2020

Volume

50

Issue

16

Start / End Page

2799 / 2808

Related Subject Headings

  • United Kingdom
  • Twins
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Logistic Models
  • Late Onset Disorders
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Intelligence
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Agnew-Blais, J. C., Polanczyk, G. V., Danese, A., Wertz, J., Moffitt, T. E., & Arseneault, L. (2020). Are changes in ADHD course reflected in differences in IQ and executive functioning from childhood to young adulthood? Psychological Medicine, 50(16), 2799–2808. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291719003015
Agnew-Blais, Jessica C., Guilherme V. Polanczyk, Andrea Danese, Jasmin Wertz, Terrie E. Moffitt, and Louise Arseneault. “Are changes in ADHD course reflected in differences in IQ and executive functioning from childhood to young adulthood?Psychological Medicine 50, no. 16 (December 2020): 2799–2808. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291719003015.
Agnew-Blais JC, Polanczyk GV, Danese A, Wertz J, Moffitt TE, Arseneault L. Are changes in ADHD course reflected in differences in IQ and executive functioning from childhood to young adulthood? Psychological medicine. 2020 Dec;50(16):2799–808.
Agnew-Blais, Jessica C., et al. “Are changes in ADHD course reflected in differences in IQ and executive functioning from childhood to young adulthood?Psychological Medicine, vol. 50, no. 16, Dec. 2020, pp. 2799–808. Epmc, doi:10.1017/s0033291719003015.
Agnew-Blais JC, Polanczyk GV, Danese A, Wertz J, Moffitt TE, Arseneault L. Are changes in ADHD course reflected in differences in IQ and executive functioning from childhood to young adulthood? Psychological medicine. 2020 Dec;50(16):2799–2808.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychological medicine

DOI

EISSN

1469-8978

ISSN

0033-2917

Publication Date

December 2020

Volume

50

Issue

16

Start / End Page

2799 / 2808

Related Subject Headings

  • United Kingdom
  • Twins
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Logistic Models
  • Late Onset Disorders
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Intelligence