Objective Level of Alertness and Inhibitory Control Predict Highway Driving Impairment in Adults With ADHD

Objective: It remains unclear whether daytime impairments in ADHD patients are better explained by an altered level of alertness and/or by cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to determine the respective contribution of these factors on driving performance in ADHD adults. Method: ADHD adult...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of attention disorders 2020-09, Vol.24 (11), p.1475-1486
Main Authors: Bioulac, Stéphanie, Sagaspe, Patricia, Micoulaud-Franchi, Jean-Arthur, Altena, Ellemarije, Taillard, Jacques, Schröder, Carmen, Bouvard, Manuel-Pierre, Fabrigoule, Colette, Philip, Pierre
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Attention
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Automobile Driving
Disorders of Excessive Somnolence
Humans
Polysomnography
Wakefulness
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Summary:Objective: It remains unclear whether daytime impairments in ADHD patients are better explained by an altered level of alertness and/or by cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to determine the respective contribution of these factors on driving performance in ADHD adults. Method: ADHD adults (n = 39) and healthy controls (n = 18) underwent a nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) followed by a Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT), a simulated driving task, and a neuropsychological evaluation. Results: ADHD patients had shorter mean sleep latency on the MWT and worse driving performance than controls. They also made more errors on attention and executive functioning tests. Logistic regression analyses showed that inhibition deficits and objective daytime sleepiness predicted highway driving performance in ADHD. Conclusion: Our study shows that not only inhibitory control deficits but also pathological level of alertness independently contribute to highway driving impairment in ADHD patients, providing a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in ADHD.
ISSN:1087-0547
1557-1246
DOI:10.1177/1087054716633751