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Hot and Cool Executive Functions in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2015

Tanya N. Antonini ,
Stephen P. Becker ,
Leanne Tamm  and
Jeffery N. Epstein
Tanya N. Antonini
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Stephen P. Becker
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Leanne Tamm
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Jeffery N. Epstein*
Affiliation:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Jeffery Epstein, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 10006, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039. E-mail: jeff.epstein@cchmc.org
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Abstract

While neuropsychological deficits in both “hot” and “cool” executive functions (EFs) have been documented among individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these EF deficits are not universal across all individuals with this diagnosis. One potential moderator of executive dysfunction may be the presence of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). This study examined the association between “hot” and “cool” EFs and comorbid ODD in children with ADHD. Thirty-three children with ADHD and comorbid ODD (ADHD+ODD), 67 with ADHD without ODD (ADHD-ODD), and 30 typically developing controls participated. Children were 7–12 years of age. “Cool” EFs were assessed with a spatial span task and a card sorting test. “Hot” EFs were assessed using a delay discounting task and a gambling task. ADHD-ODD and ADHD+ODD groups performed more poorly on “cool” EF tasks than controls, but did not differ from each other. Furthermore, the number of ADHD symptoms, but not ODD symptoms, was associated with “cool” EF scores. The three groups did not differ on “hot” EF tasks and the number of ADHD or ODD symptoms was unrelated to “hot” EF scores. In sum, children with ADHD presented with “cool” EF deficits which appear to be unrelated to ODD comorbidity. However, “hot” EF deficits were not present among children with ADHD, irrespective of comorbid ODD status. (JINS, 2015, 21, 584–595)

Keywords

ADHDattention-deficit/hyperactivity disordercomorbidityexecutive functioninghot executive functionscool executive functionsoppositional defiant disorderdisruptive behavior disorders
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 21 , Issue 8 , September 2015 , pp. 584 - 595
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2015 

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