Utilidad del Children´s Embedded Figures Test en el Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the differences among patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and control subjects, in relation to their global/analytical way of processing information and to find the best model based in Children´s Embedded Figures Test (CEFT) which permits prediction and diagnosis of ADHD, and analyzing the validity of the test for the diagnostic of the disease. Method: We study 100 ADHD cases (DSM-IV criteria) and 100 controls, ranging between 7 and 11 years of age, analyzed with CEFT. Controls were randomly recruited and matched by age, gender and sociodemography area with cases. Results: Cases show an average cognitive style significantly more field dependent (d = 1.36), reflecting a more global way of processing information than controls at all ages. The logistic regression model that best predicts ADHD is constituted by age, gender and CEFT direct marks and the derived formula from the model shows an 80% of sensitivity and a 84% specificity for ADHD, taking as gold standard the DSM-IV criteria. Conclusion: CEFT test shows utility and of appropriate validity for diagnosing ADHD.