Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: diagnostic contribution of a computerized assessment of visual attention

Authors

  • Gabriel Coutinho Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
  • Paulo Mattos Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Instituto de Psiquiatria; Grupo de Estudos do Déficit de Atenção
  • Catia Araújo Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
  • Monica Duchesne IPUB; IEDE; Grupo de Obesidade e Transtornos Alimentares

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000500003

Keywords:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, attention, neuropsychological tests, diagnosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if performances in a visual attention test could discriminate between children and adolescents with ADHD and normal subjects. METHODS: 102 children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV were submitted to the Test of Visual Attention (TAVIS-III) and had their performance compared to 678 normal paired subjects who comprised a control comparison group. All of the subjects were sequentially recruited from one public and two private schools, following parents authorization. RESULTS: ROC curves analysis have shown that simultaneous impairment in hit reaction time of focused attention, omission errors in shifted attention and commission errors in sustained attention revealed high sensibility and specificity, with positive predictive value of 87.5%. The negative predictive value was of 99% when the aforementioned indexes occurred simultaneously within normal range. CONCLUSION: The Test of Visual Attention (TAVIS-III) was efficient to discriminate persons with ADHD and normal persons in this non clinical sample.

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Published

2007-01-01

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 5 (2007)

Section

Original Articles

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: diagnostic contribution of a computerized assessment of visual attention . (2007). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 34(5), 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000500003