Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Evaluation with a Continuous Performance Test
Journal of Clinical Neurology, 2018
Abstract
Background and Purpose The objective of this study was to determine if the MOXO visualand vocal-distractors-based continuous performance test distinguishes patients with attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) from those without
NF1.
Methods Thirty-five patients (16 males; mean age 9.91 years) attending a multidisciplinary
NF1 clinic completed the MOXO test. The findings were compared to 532 healthy age-matched
standardized control subjects (285 males) without ADHD.
Results The overall performance in the MOXO text was significantly worse in the NF1
group than in controls (p<0.01), but no group-specific pattern was identified. Impulsivity and
hyperactivity were significantly more prominent in males than females (p<0.01). Compared
to controls, the NF1 group exhibited significantly more failures to respond to target stimuli in
the presence of visual distractors.
Conclusions MOXO scores are abnormal in patients with NF1, but the test cannot differentiate between NF1 with ADHD characteristics and ADHD. The test highlights sex differences in
ADHD characteristics in NF1. Overreactivity to visual distractors may form part of the attention
deficit in NF1
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) from those without
NF1.
Methods Thirty-five patients (16 males; mean age 9.91 years) attending a multidisciplinary
NF1 clinic completed the MOXO test. The findings were compared to 532 healthy age-matched
standardized control subjects (285 males) without ADHD.
Results The overall performance in the MOXO text was significantly worse in the NF1
group than in controls (p<0.01), but no group-specific pattern was identified. Impulsivity and
hyperactivity were significantly more prominent in males than females (p<0.01). Compared
to controls, the NF1 group exhibited significantly more failures to respond to target stimuli in
the presence of visual distractors.
Conclusions MOXO scores are abnormal in patients with NF1, but the test cannot differentiate between NF1 with ADHD characteristics and ADHD. The test highlights sex differences in
ADHD characteristics in NF1. Overreactivity to visual distractors may form part of the attention
deficit in NF1
