B - 08 Differences in Memory Performance between Adjustment Disorder and ADHD among Children.

Abstract

To measure the differences in cognitive performance between a sample of children diagnosed with adjustment disorder (ad) and ADHD. Participants were selected from a de-identified child outpatient clinical database. The ad group (n = 257; Mage = 8.75, SD =2.03; Med = 3.07, SD = 1.86) had 61.5% male, 47% White, 19.2% Black, 26.3% Hispanic, and 7.2% other race. The ADHD group (n = 149; Mage = 7.85, SD = 1.84; Med = 2.23, SD = 1.74) had 75.3% male, 54.1% White, 17.6% Black, 18.8% Hispanic, and 9.4% other race. Groups differed on age and education. ANCOVAs were used to test differences between groups controlling for significant covariates. At the group level, individuals with ad performed significantly better than those with ADHD on the WISC-IV working memory index [F(1, 127) = 8.10, p = 0.01], WRAML-2 verbal memory index [F(1, 163) = 11.81, p < 0.001], visual memory index [F(1, 161) = 4.48, p = 0.04], attention and concentration index [F(1, 153) = 13.27, p < 0.001], general memory index [F(1, 161) = 12.89, p < 0.001], screening memory index [F(1, 141) = 9.35, p = 0.003], and general recognition index [F(1, 152) = 8.57, p = 0.004]. Individuals with ADHD tend to have deficits in encoding and digesting information, which can create memory-retrieval difficulties. Meanwhile, individuals with ad may experience intrusive memories that gradually fade away and do not interfere with short- or long-term memory retrieval, and may partially explain their better performance in memory tasks. Limitations of the study include the lack of premorbid measures of memory ability and lack of information about comorbidity. Future research could explore the impact of different ADHD presentations on memory ability.