B - 50 The Relationship between Objective and Subjective Measures of Attention.

Abstract

The relationship between objective and subjective measures of attention is understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the convergence between commonly used measures in the assessment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to determine whether there is a significant difference between individuals with and without ADHD on subscales related to ADHD symptoms. This study involved an archival data set of Veterans (N = 504) who completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) or MMPI-3, the Barkley's Adult ADHD Rating Scale or a local DSM-5/TR ADHD diagnostic interview, the Connor Continuous Performance Test 3 (CCPT-3) or the Integrated Visual & Auditory 2, and the Trail Making Test as part of a clinical assessment in a specialty ADHD clinic. Nonparametric comparisons between those with and without ADHD revealed no statistically significant differences across the cognitive measures. Self-reported symptoms of inattention (z = 12.07, p < 0.001, r = 0.57, large effect), hyperactivity (z = 4.70, p < 0.001, r = 0.22, small effect), and impulsivity (z = 5.52, p < 0.001, r = 0.26, small effect), significantly differentiated participants with and without ADHD. Pearson correlations between the two types of measures showed that omission errors on the CCPT-3 were significantly correlated to self-reported inattention symptoms (r = 0.15, p = 0.039). All other correlations between objective and subjective measures were not significant. These results suggest that neuropsychological measures are not strongly correlated to self-reported symptoms of inattention, and as such may be less sensitive to ADHD.