Aiding diagnosis of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder of the inattentive presentation: Discriminant function analysis of multi-domain measures including EEG

Abstract Introduction We developed a neurocognitive assessment tool (NCAT) in consultation with mental health professionals working with children with AD/HD as a diagnostic aid and screening tool. This study examines the predictive utility of NCAT in the classification of children with AD/HD Inattentive presentation. Method Fifty three children with AD/HD Inattentive presentation and 161 typically-developing children completed an NCAT assessment. Discriminant function analyses examined group membership prediction for separate components of NCAT and for the components combined. Results The combined model correctly classified 93.4% of participants, with 91.4% sensitivity and 93.9% specificity. Contributions to classification were from SNAP-IV, psychological needs satisfaction, self-regulation, executive function performance, and EEG. The combined model resulted in a 9.3% increase in specificity and 5.9% increase in sensitivity compared to SNAP-IV. Conclusions NCAT provides good discrimination between children with and without AD/HD of the Inattentive presentation, and further investigation including other subtypes and comorbidities is warranted.