Comparison of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with sluggish cognitive tempo clinic in terms of temperament characteristics and executive functions

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperament traits and executive functioning characteristics of ADHD cases, ADHD cases with YBT clinics and control cases. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 cases, including 25 ADHD, 29 ADHD with YBT and 26 controls, aged 8 12 years; who were diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM 5 criteria and met the inclusion criteria, were included in our study. Psychiatric evaluations were performed by applying the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children Present and Lifetime Version (K SADS PL) and DSM 5 based psychiatric interview. Parents were asked to complete the Short YBT Screening Questionnaire, Barkley Child Attention Scale (BCAS), Conners' Parent Rating Scale Short Form (CPRS SF), Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), School age Children Temperament Inventory. According to BCAS scores an ADHD with YBT group was formed. The subjects included in the study were asked to complete the Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System Scales (BIS/BAS) and the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (J TCI R). Results: It was found that children and adolescents with ADHD accompanied by YBT had higher set switching, initiation, working memory, planning, ordering, monitoring, behavioral index, meta cognitive index executive function values and CPRS SF learning problems and anxiety scores and BAS fun seeking scores than the group without YBT. The healthy group had higher emotionality, perseverance and effort values; and lower excitement to exploring scores than the group with ADHD accompanied by YBT. Correlation analyses revealed that ADHD scores were positively correlated with disorganization, psychosomatics and sensitivity to rewards, whereas the YBT scores were positively correlated with avoidance of strangers, psychosomatics, set switching, emotional control, behavioral and global index scores. Conclusions: When the results were evaluated it was found that YBT caused executive dysfunction independently of ADHD. When examined in terms of temperament traits, it was found that YBT was more associated with harm avoidance trait and ADHD was associated with novelty seeking temperament trait. Keywords: Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Executive Functions, Temperament, Character