Longitudinaal onderzoek naar inhibitie bij jonge kinderen met en zonder ADHD en/ of DBD

Abstract

Background: Much research has been conducted on the subject of problem behavior and the relationship with executive functions in adolescents and adults. Substantially less is known about the development of executive functions in young children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Disruptive Behavior Disorder (DBD). Aim: The first aim of the present study was to investigate the development in inhibition performance of children aged 3.5 to 7 years with and without ADHD and/or DBD over a period of 18 months. The second aim was to examine the differences in inhibition performance between the three clinical groups (ADHD, ADHD + DBD, DBD) and the control group. The final aim of the present study was to investigate the degree in which rule breaking behavior occurs within an inhibition task between the three clinical groups and the control group. Method: A battery of seven executive function tasks, specially developed for young children, were used to assess the performance of inhibition of the four groups during three points in time over a period of 18 months. Results: The results show a significant increase in inhibition performance for the clinical groups after 18 months, indicating an inhibition development. Secondly, compared to the control group all three clinical groups showed significant differences in inhibition performance, where the three clinical groups showed significant lower inhibition results than the control group. Finally, when frequency of rule breaking behavior is compared, all groups show a decrease in this behaviour after 18 months. Furthermore, the clinical groups exhibit more rule breaking behaviour than the control group. Conclusion: Clinical groups showed impairments in inhibition performance compared to the control group.