A-204 Exploring Memory Functioning in an Adult ADHD Population Using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test

Abstract

Abstract Objective: This study analyzed differences in learning/acquisition and delayed recall between adult patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Predominantly Inattentive and Combined subtypes and a control group using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). Method: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from a consecutive series of patients referred specifically for purposes of ADHD diagnostic clarification. Each was administered the RAVLT, as part of an extensive evaluation, to assess for verbal learning and memory. 155 patients (40.8%) met DSM-5 criteria for ADHD-Inattentive subtype and 165 (43.4%) for ADHD-Combined subtype. Sixty (15.8%) who did not meet criteria for ADHD, but who were diagnosed with a primary depressive/anxiety disorder or received no diagnosis served as a control group. Results: There were significant main effects found between the three groups on all trials analyzed on the RAVLT (Trial 1, p=.016; Trial 5, p=.003; Total Trials, p=.000; Trial 6, p=.001; Trial 7, p=.000). Effect sizes ranged from .022-.042. Posthoc analysis revealed that the ADHD-C group performed significantly worse than both the control group and ADHD-I group in both acquisition and delayed memory. Frequency distributions of impaired performance revealed the ADHD-C group had the largest rate of impairments (12-23%) on this measure. The ADHD-I group demonstrated 6-19% impairments. The control group ranged from 3-10% impairments. Conclusion: Verbal memory impairments are much more likely in adult patients diagnosed with ADHD than those without the diagnosis. While the inattentive and combined subtypes of ADHD both demonstrate deficiencies in verbal memory performance, the rate of likely impairments is much greater amongst the combined subtype.