Dimensional associations between executive function processes and symptoms of ADHD, ASD, oppositional defiance and anxiety in young school-referred children

Abstract

Executive function (EF) difficulties are implicated in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs), such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Because NDDs are highly comorbid and frequently co-occur with additional clinical problems, it is unclear how specific EF problems are associated with symptoms of ASD and ADHD, whilst accounting for co-occurring anxiety or oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) symptoms. The current study utilised a large sample of young children (n = 438, aged 4–8) referred to Cardiff University's Neurodevelopment Assessment Unit (NDAU) by teachers for cognitive and/or socio-emotional problems. As part of the referral process, the teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which revealed that most children displayed moderate to high hyperactivity (86%) and prosocial (73%) problems, as well as high levels of symptoms in other clinical domains (41% emotional, 61% conduct and 68% peer problems). Children completed tasks to assess episodic memory, cognitive inhibition, cognitive flexibility and visuomotor control, whilst parents completed questionnaires to measure symptoms of ASD, ADHD, anxiety and ODD. Dimensional analyses showed that poorer cognitive inhibition and visuospatial episodic memory were significantly associated with ADHD symptoms, whereas cognitive flexibility was negatively associated with ODD symptoms. Having more ASD symptoms was associated with fewer cognitive inhibition problems, whereas anxiety was associated with better cognitive flexibility. Our approach to assessment and analysis shows that specific cognitive processes are associated with distinct neurodevelopmental and clinical symptoms, which is ultimately relevant to early identification of and intervention for young children at risk of cognitive and/or socio-emotional problems.