Does ADHD worsen inhibitory control in preschool children born very premature and/or with very low birth weight?

• Autor(a) principal: Lacerda, Bárbara Calil
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Martínez, Sophia B. S., Franz, Adelar Pedro, Maia, Carlos Renato Moreira, Silveira, Rita de Cássia dos Santos, Procianoy, Renato Soibelmann, Rohde, Luis Augusto Paim, Wagner, Flávia
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFRGS
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10183/225099
• topic: Transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade; Recém-nascido prematuro; Pré-escolar; Recém-nascido de muito baixo peso; Inhibitory control; Prematurity; Preschool; ADHD

Introduction: Deficits in executive functioning, especially in inhibitory control, are present in children born very premature and/or with very low birth weight (VP/VLBW) and in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Objective: To evaluate whether ADHD imposes additional inhibitory control (IC) deficits in preschoolers born VP/VLBW. Methods: 79 VP/VLBW (4 to 7 years) children were assessed for ADHD using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). IC was measured with Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT 2) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). Results: No significant differences were found between ADHD (n = 24) and non-ADHD children (n = 55) for any of the measures (p = 0.062 to p = 0.903). Both groups had deficits in most K-CPT 2 scores compared to normative samples, indicating poor IC and inconsistent reaction times. Conclusions: ADHD does not aggravate IC deficits in VP/VLBW children. Either neuropsychological tasks and parent reports of executive functions (EFs) may not be sensitive enough to differentiate VP/VLBW preschoolers with and without ADHD, or these children’s EFs are already so impaired that there is not much room for additional impairments imposed by ADHD.