Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Factors in Emerging Adults:Symptomatic and Neuropsychological Correlates

Cognitive Performance and Psychiatric Self-Reports Across Adult Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome and ADHD Diagnostic Groups

“…Results of the present study support prior work demonstrating the weak to null associations between CDS symptoms and objective cognitive performance among adults (Jarrett et al, 2017; Kamradt et al, 2018; Smith & Suhr, 2021). Some prior studies have demonstrated selective deficits in sustained attention (Jarrett et al, 2017), which were not observed in the present study.…”

“…However, this difference may also be explained by CDS symptom measurement. The majority of studies demonstrating similar results to the present study utilized the 9-item SCT/CDS scale from the BAARS-IV (Barkley, 2011; Jarrett et al, 2017; Kamradt et al, 2018; Smith & Suhr, 2021; Wood et al, 2017), which is validated for use among adults. Conversely, pediatric studies drew items from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL-C; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) to create a CDS composite with 4 to 12 items (Bauermeister et al, 2012; Creque & Willcutt, 2021; Wåhlstedt & Bohlin, 2010; Willcutt et al, 2014).…”

“…In fact, factor analytic studies of CDS and ADHD symptoms have revealed a 3-factor structure with CDS loading on a separate factor than the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms characteristic of ADHD (Lee et al, 2014; Penny et al, 2009). Factor analytic studies of the CDS construct itself have revealed 2 to 3 subfactors typically associated with inattention, including 2-factor models of daydreaming/sleepiness and slow/sluggish/lethargy factors (e.g., Barkley, 2013; Penny et al, 2009) and 3-factor models including daydreaming/boredom, lethargy, and cognitive complaints (Smith & Suhr, 2021). However, emergence of subfactors is inconsistent across studies and most studies examining correlates of CDS do so as a unitary construct (Becker, 2021; Becker et al, 2022).…”

“…Significant associations have been observed between CDS symptom severity and performance on select cognitive assessments in adults, particularly within the domains of attention and processing speed (Becker et al, 2016; Jarrett et al, 2017; Kamradt et al, 2018; Smith & Suhr, 2021; Wåhlstedt & Bohlin, 2010; Willcutt et al, 2014). However, the magnitude and significance of associations have been equivocal across studies.…”

“…Unlike ADHD-I symptoms, CDS symptoms have shown null or inverse associations with hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms observed in the predominately hyperactive (ADHD-H) or combined (ADHD-C) presentations of ADHD (Barkley, 2014;Becker, 2021;Becker et al, 2018;Lee et al, 2014;Wåhlstedt & Bohlin, 2010), further underscoring that CDS and ADHD are dissociable constructs. However, this association is not universal, and CDS has demonstrated positive associations with hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms among children, adolescents, and college students, though of a smaller magnitude than inattentive symptoms (e.g., Creque & Willcutt, 2021;Jarrett et al, 2017;Smith & Suhr, 2021;Willcutt et al, 2014). Although the two are distinct, ADHD and CDS cooccur at rates between 39% and 59% (Barkley, 2014).…”