Diferencias atencionales entre el trastorno por déficit de atención aislado y asociado a neurofibromatosis tipo 1

Abstract

Introduction

The incidence of ADHD in patients with NF1 reaches 60%. Beyond the published literature on cognitive aspects in subjects with NF1, some studies suggest that the attentional profile of patients with NF1+ADHD is different from those with isolated ADHD.

Methods

A retrospective, analytical case-control study with the objective of comparing the intellectual and attentional profile in children with NF1+ADHD, NF1 and isolated ADHD in order to characterise them, noting similarities and differences.

Results

Neuropsychological evaluations from 2017 to 2021 were reviewed for all subjects with a diagnosis of NF1 (n = 46) with IQ >70 and ADHD (n = 180). In the ANOVA test, it was observed that patients with NF1+ADHD presented with greater visuospatial impairment (M = 84.66; F_(2,210) = 7.84; P< 0.001; η² = 0.07) and a lower total intellectual level (M = 84.20; F_(2,223) = 4.35; P = 0.01; η² = 0.04). In the attentional tests they showed more errors of omission (M = 72.66; F_(2,223) = 18.13; P< .001; η² = 0.14) and of commission (M = 57.87; F_(2,223) = 4.68; P = 0.01; η² = 0.04) and lower reaction speed (M = 66.58; F_(2,223) = 19.24; P< 0.001; η² = 0.15) compared to patients with NF1 and isolated ADHD.

Conclusions

Attention deficit in patients with NF1 is associated with lower performance in intellectual functioning and greater visuospatial impairment. The attentional pattern of patients with NF1+ADHD was different from those with isolated ADHD; the difference being not only quantitative but also qualitative, supporting the hypothesis that attention impairment has its own features of NF1 and independent of ADHD.