INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 05 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 02:30 pm - 03:45 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry \| Addiction/Dependence \| Stress/Coping \| Emotional/Social Processes Final Abstract #22 The Clinical Utility of Neurocognitive Tests for Assessment of Adult ADHD/ASD Maurizio Cundari, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Susanna Vestberg, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Amelia Hansson, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Anders Rasmussen, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Category: Psychiatric Disorders Keyword 1: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Keyword 2: autism spectrum disorder Keyword 3: cerebellum Objective: The cerebellum plays a major role in motor control and sensorimotor integration, but also in cognitive domains like visuospatial perception and visuospatial ability. There are a multitude of challenges in correctly diagnosing ADHD and ASD. Since there are no accurate biomarkers there is a risk of subjective biases. To avoid this, is necessary to develop new objective measurements that can support current assessments. Previous research has focused on the prefrontal cortex involvement in the disorders, but accumulating research suggests that the cerebellum plays a crucial role. The first aim of this study was to investigate sensorimotor and visuospatial abilities using objective neurocognitive tests in a group of patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), previously associated with differences in cerebellar functions. The second aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of neurocognitive test. Participants and Methods: Thirthy-four healthy controls (55% males; age = 34,5 ± 12,1) were included as well as patients with ASD (n = 30; gender = 46% males; age = 37,3 ± 13,4) and medicated ADHD patients (n = 32; gender = 34% males; age = 34,1 ± 12,7). Education level: only controls vs. ASD differed (p<0,001). Patients were recruited from the unit of Neuropsychiatry, Hospital of Helsingborg, Sweden. Neurocognitive test (Copy Task, Visual Reproduction II, WMS-III) and motor tests (Motor Speed Trail Making Test 5 D-KEFS, Symbol Search and Coding WAIS-IV, Bender-Gestalt II Motor Test and Perception Test as well as Prism Adaptation) were administered to examine motor abilities and visuospatial/visuoperceptual functions.Statistical analysis: One way ANOVA. Kruskal-Wallis for non-normal distributions. Results: ADHD and ASD patients performed significantly worse than controls regarding motor tests such as Motor Speed Trail Making Test 5 D-KEFS (non parametric-ADHD p<0,001, r=0,62; ASD p<0,001, r=0,492), Symbol Search (p<0,001; η2= 0,289) and Coding WAIS-IV (p<0,001; η2= 0,404), Bender-Gestalt II Motor Test (p<0,001; η2= 0,133) and Perception Test (non parametric ADHD p<0,001, r=0,678 ; ASD p<0,001, r=0,636) as well Prism Adaptation (p<0,001; η2= 0,267). ADHD and ASD patients performed worse than controls on Copy Task, Visual Reproduction II, WMS-III (p<0,001; η2= 0,274). No significant differences were found between ADHD and ASD patients for completion time on Copy Task, Visual Reproduction II, WMS-III (p=0,276; η2=0,028). Conclusions: Patients with ADHD and ASD show motor deficits. This is consistent with cerebellar involvement in these neuropsychiatric disorders. ADHD and ASD patients show significant impairments in the visuospatial and visuoperceptual cognitive domain. ADHD patients performed significantly lower compared to controls, even though they are medicated. All the tests selected from our neurocognitive test battery can be used to improve clinical evaluation.

Poster

02/15/2024
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry | Addiction/Dependence | Stress/Coping | Emotional/Social Processes

Final Abstract #22

The Clinical Utility of Neurocognitive Tests for Assessment of Adult ADHD/ASD

Maurizio Cundari, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Susanna Vestberg, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Amelia Hansson, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Anders Rasmussen, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

Category: Psychiatric Disorders

Keyword 1: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Keyword 2: autism spectrum disorder
Keyword 3: cerebellum

Objective:

The cerebellum plays a major role in motor control and sensorimotor integration, but also in cognitive domains like visuospatial perception and visuospatial ability. There are a multitude of challenges in correctly diagnosing ADHD and ASD. Since there are no accurate biomarkers there is a risk of subjective biases. To avoid this, is necessary to develop new objective measurements that can support current assessments. Previous research has focused on the prefrontal cortex involvement in the disorders, but accumulating research suggests that the cerebellum plays a crucial role. The first aim of this study was to investigate sensorimotor and visuospatial abilities using objective neurocognitive tests in a group of patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), previously associated with differences in cerebellar functions. The second aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of neurocognitive test.

Participants and Methods:

Thirthy-four healthy controls (55% males; age = 34,5 ± 12,1) were included as well as patients with ASD (n = 30; gender = 46% males; age = 37,3 ± 13,4) and medicated ADHD patients (n = 32; gender = 34% males; age = 34,1 ± 12,7). Education level: only controls vs. ASD differed (p<0,001). Patients were recruited from the unit of Neuropsychiatry, Hospital of Helsingborg, Sweden. Neurocognitive test (Copy Task, Visual Reproduction II, WMS-III) and motor tests (Motor Speed Trail Making Test 5 D-KEFS, Symbol Search and Coding WAIS-IV, Bender-Gestalt II Motor Test and Perception Test as well as Prism Adaptation) were administered to examine motor abilities and visuospatial/visuoperceptual functions.Statistical analysis: One way ANOVA. Kruskal-Wallis for non-normal distributions.

Results:

ADHD and ASD patients performed significantly worse than controls regarding motor tests such as Motor Speed Trail Making Test 5 D-KEFS (non parametric-ADHD p<0,001, r=0,62; ASD p<0,001, r=0,492), Symbol Search (p<0,001; η2= 0,289) and Coding WAIS-IV (p<0,001; η2= 0,404), Bender-Gestalt II Motor Test (p<0,001; η2= 0,133) and Perception Test (non parametric ADHD p<0,001, r=0,678 ; ASD p<0,001, r=0,636) as well Prism Adaptation (p<0,001; η2= 0,267).
ADHD and ASD patients performed worse than controls on Copy Task, Visual Reproduction II, WMS-III (p<0,001; η2= 0,274). No significant differences were found between ADHD and ASD patients for completion time on Copy Task, Visual Reproduction II, WMS-III (p=0,276; η2=0,028).

Conclusions:

Patients with ADHD and ASD show motor deficits. This is consistent with cerebellar involvement in these neuropsychiatric disorders. ADHD and ASD patients show significant impairments in the visuospatial and visuoperceptual cognitive domain. ADHD patients performed significantly lower compared to controls, even though they are medicated. All the tests selected from our neurocognitive test battery can be used to improve clinical evaluation.