Characteristics of executive function in two subtypes of boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

【Objective】 To explore the characteristics of executive function in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,predominantly inattentive subtype(ADHD-IT) and ADHD combined subtype(ADHD).【Method】 Seventy-six boys with ADHD-CT,15 boys with ADHD-IT and 54 healthy control subjects performed inhibition functions(Go/no-go task,Stroop color-word test,stop signal task) and working memory functions(digits forward,digits backward,Corsi block recall and visual spatial n-back).【Results】 1) ADHD groups performed significantly worse than healthy controls did in Go/no-go task,Stroop color-word test,digits backward,and Corsi block recall.After controlling for age,grade and full-scale intelligence quotient(FIQ),the results remained unchanged.2)There were no significant differences in all tasks between ADHD-CT and ADHD-IT subtypes.【Conclusion】 The results suggest that boys with ADHD showed deficit in executive function.The pattern of deficit in executive function between ADHD-CT and ADHD-IT subtypes is similar to each other.