Attentional processing of neutral and emotional stimuli in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorder (AD) : Evidences from the EPANE task.

Poster conférence Roehampton
Nom de la conférence : 11th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Titre : The attentional processing of neutral and emotional stimuli in children with ADHD and anxiety disorders : Evidences from the EPANE task
Auteurs : Erika Wauthia, Aurelia Rendon de la Cruz, & Mandy Rossignol
Abstract :
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders (AD) in childhood and adolescence are common and disabling. They are characterized by attentional impairments which depend on distinct mechanisms whose understanding seems to be important for the development of appropriate clinical intervention. The aim of this study was to compare the attentional processing of neutral and emotional stimuli in children suffering from ADHD and AD. We compared 15 ADHD children to 15 AD children and to 30 healthy controls, aged from 6 to 12 years and matched on age, gender and school level. We used the EPANE, a computerized task which combines a Flanker task, a Spatial-Cueing task and a Simon task. In each task, we measured mean reaction times (RTs) and correct responses (CRs) within 2 conditions (congruent and incongruent) and for 3 types of stimuli (angry, happy, neutral). Results showed no differences for the Flanker Task. For the Spatial-Cueing and the Simon tasks, AD children seemed to have longer RTs for emotional faces in both conditions. For the Simon task, ADHD children showed shorter RTs for neutral stimuli in the congruent condition and lower RCs rates in both conditions for happy faces. AD children had lower RCs rates for neutral stimuli in the congruent condition. These results suggest different attentional impairments in ADHD and AD which can be attested by the EPANE task. We will discuss the clinical utility of this task in the differentional diagnosis of these disorders.