Comparison of the continuous performance test - Rest of variables of attention and the Conners' Rating Scales - Revised in the clinical diagnosis of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of the this study was to examine the relationship and consistency between the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and the Test of Variables of Attention - Auditory (TOVA-A) and the Conners' Parent Rating Scale - Revised: Long Form (CPRS-R: L) and the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale - Revised: Long Form (CTRS-R: L). Participants in the study were a group of nonreferred children between the ages of 6 and 12. Children completed the TOVA and TOVA-A CPTs. The CPRS-R: L and CTRS-R: L scales were completed by the participant's parent and teacher. Pearson Product correlations, multiple regression and chi-square analyses were utilized to determine the relationship and consistency between the TOVA and TOVA-A measures and the scales of the CPRS-R: L and CTRS-R: L.

Findings and Conclusions: The TOVA and TOVA-A D-Prime was consistently correlated with the Cognitive Problems/Inattention scale, the Conners' ADHD Index, and the DSM-IV: Inattentive scale and the DSM-IV: Total scale of the CPRS-R: L and the CTRS-R: L; and the Social Problems scale of the CTRS-R: L. The RTV also showed a statistical relationship among these scales, although not as consistent a pattern. The ADHD score of the TOVA was consistently correlated with the CPRS-R: L and CTRS-R: L DSM-IV: Hyperactive-Impulsive scale. Multiple regression analyses found that the TOVA and TOVA-A D-Prime, Omission Errors, and RTV scores would more likely to predict parent and teacher rating scales measuring inattention, while the TOVA and TOVA-A D-Prime or the TOVA ADHD score would be more likely to predict parent and teacher scales measuring hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. Chi-square analyses suggested that there are no differences in the proportion of children identified as normal or abnormal by the variables of the TOVA/TOVA-A and the scales of the CPRS-R: L and CTRS-R: L. These findings indicate that the TOVA and TOVA-A are measuring similar aspects of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity as the CPRS-R: L and the CTRS-R: L.