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Examination of Psychosocial and Neuropsychological Characteristics of Young Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Fox, Laura C.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1217449628

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
The present study pursued two broad goals related to the examination of psychological, demographic, and neuropsychological correlates of ADHD in young adulthood. First, the study investigated the phenomenology of ADHD and ADHD symptomatology in young adult college students. Using data collected from a large cohort of non-treatment-seeking college students, the current study examined the degree to which differences in symptom expression, impairment, and psychiatric status differentiate young adults who do and do not meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The second broad goal of this project was to further explore the evidence for neuropsychological deficits in adult ADHD while addressing some important methodological and conceptual limitations of prior studies. Specifically, the neuropsychological performance of individuals with a previously established diagnosis of ADHD was compared to two control groups of healthy, young adults: one group who endorsed significant levels of current ADHD characteristics and one who did not. Results suggest that young adults with ADHD-like symptomatology resemble those with previously established diagnoses of ADHD in multiple psychosocial and demographic characteristics, with the exception of retrospective report of childhood ADHD symptoms and self-report of current psychological difficulties. With regard to neuropsychological functioning, participants with ADHD diagnoses performed significantly worse than both control groups on tests of processing speed and executive functioning. Findings suggest that neuropsychological evaluation may have utility in the assessment process for adult ADHD. In particular, measures that emphasize processing speed and executive functioning may hold value in distinguishing between those with ADHD and those who report ADHD-like characteristics. Implications for assessment of adult ADHD in both research and clinical settings are discussed.
Julie A. Suhr, PhD (Committee Chair)
Heather Alvarez, PhD (Committee Member)
Christine Gidycz, PhD (Committee Member)
Julie Owens, PhD (Committee Member)
Tracy Leinbaugh, PhD (Committee Member)
146 p.
Psychology
Adult ADHD; college students; neuropsychology; ADHD assessment

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fox, L. C. (2008). Examination of Psychosocial and Neuropsychological Characteristics of Young Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1217449628

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fox, Laura. Examination of Psychosocial and Neuropsychological Characteristics of Young Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. 2008. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1217449628.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fox, Laura. "Examination of Psychosocial and Neuropsychological Characteristics of Young Adults with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1217449628

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1217449628
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.