Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Neuropsychological Functioning

Overview

Journal Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol

Specialties Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Psychology

Date 2021 Mar 23

PMID 33755869

Citations 9

Authors

Chava A Creque

Erik G Willcutt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is marked by impairments across social, emotional, and academic functioning, but few studies have examined the association between SCT and neuropsychological functioning. The present study examined the associations between SCT and measures of processing speed, executive function, attention, and reaction time. From a larger sample of 8,238 children and adolescents, a subsample of 928 children were overselected for symptoms of SCT or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and compared to a matched control sample of 652 individuals without elevations of ADHD or SCT (age range = 5.9-15.4 years). Multiple regression analyses revealed that symptoms of SCT were independently associated with deficits in nearly all domains assessed by a battery of neuropsychological assessments, including slower processing speed, poorer working memory, decreased inhibition, poorer vigilance, and increased reaction time. Further, weaknesses in all five of these domains remained significant even after symptoms of ADHD-inattention, anxiety, and depression were controlled. These findings add to literature that supports the validity of SCT as a symptom profile separate from ADHD-inattention symptoms.

Citing Articles

Neuropsychological correlates of ADHD: indicators of different attentional profiles among youth with sluggish cognitive tempo.

Krone B, Bedard A, Schulz K, Ivanov I, Stein M, Newcorn J Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025; 2():1208660.

PMID: 39816860 PMC: 11731839. DOI: 10.3389/frcha.2023.1208660.

Unified and distinct cognitive control deficits in adolescents with cognitive disengagement syndrome and learning burnout.

Weng Y, Wu T, Wei Y, Chen L, Liu X, Cai K Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1399122.

PMID: 39022757 PMC: 11251943. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1399122.

Comorbidity between reading disability and ADHD in a community sample: Implications for academic, social, and neuropsychological functioning.

Willcutt E, Petrill S Mind Brain Educ. 2024; 17(4):338-348.

PMID: 38898939 PMC: 11185354. DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12393.

Cognitive disengagement syndrome in children with type 1 diabetes: important implications for clinical outcomes.

Uzun Cicek A, Celik N Acta Diabetol. 2023; 61(1):53-61.

PMID: 37670030 DOI: 10.1007/s00592-023-02178-w.

Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) (Formerly Sluggish Cognitive Tempo), Autism, and Insomnia Symptoms in Childhood Predict CDS in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study.

Mayes S, Waschbusch D, Fernandez-Mendoza J, Calhoun S Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2023; .

PMID: 37391602 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01565-2.

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