Assessment of sustained attention in high-performance and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children with a vigilance task

Authors

  • Mateu Servera (1) Department of Psychology, Research Institute of Health Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9846-3318
  • Belén Sáez (1) Department of Psychology, Research Institute of Health Sciences, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma (Spain). Devpsy, Research Institute of Health Sciences - IUNICS. Dept. of Psychology University of the Balearic Islands. (2) Dept. of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments, Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia (Spain) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6125-5064
  • Tania Iglesias Rodríguez (3) Department of Psychology, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia and Universidad del Atlántico. Professor at the dance program. Faculty of Fine Arts. Barranquilla (Colombia) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9259-9011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.477731
Keywords: ADHD, High-performance, Assessment, Sustained attention, Vigilance task, Neuropsychology

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to compare children selected in a community setting with ADHD, high-performance, and normo-typical development on a sustained attention task. Three groups of children were selected: ADHD (n = 42), high-performance (n = 20), and normo- typical development (n = 28). A brief computerized vigilance task (CSAT-R) was applied to compare attentional capacity and reaction time. The participants were divided into those with “attentional dysfunction” and those with “normal attention” to analyze clinical validity. Children with high-performance were clearly differentiated from the other two groups, with large effect sizes. The differences between normo-typical and ADHD groups were only significant in the errors and in a nonparametric index of attentional capacity, but with small effect sizes. The CSAT-R showed good specificity and an acceptable positive predictive value, but low levels of sensitivity, and a poor negative predictive value. Therefore, sustained attention could be a prominent mechanism in children with high capacities. The CSAT-R (and probably most of attentional tasks) would be moderately useful in community settings for ADHD diagnosis, but not to rule it out.

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Published
27-04-2023
How to Cite
Servera , M., Sáez, B., & Iglesias Rodríguez, T. . (2023). Assessment of sustained attention in high-performance and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children with a vigilance task. Anales de Psicología / Annals of Psychology, 39(2), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.477731
Issue
Vol. 39 No. 2 (2023): may - september
Section
Developmental and Educational Psychology

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