Time Perception Deficits and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: Literature has documented that children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have difficulties in time management by manifesting with difficulties making plans, organizing tasks and activities, and awaiting their turns. However, the studies regarding time perception have been few as compared to those of neuropsychological measures and there is no information about this topic in Chinese population. In view of this, we will conduct a study to investigate the clinical and treatment aspects of time perception among children and adolescent with ADHD. Specific Aims: 1. to examine the developmental and gender effect on the performance in time perception; 2. to explore the deficit in time estimation, time discrimination, and time reproduction in children and adolescents with ADHD as compared to normal controls; 3. to identify the association between ADHD symptoms and performance in time perception tasks; and 4. to investigate the efficacy of MPH on the time perception measures among children and adolescents with ADHD; Subjects and Methods: This protocol consists of two studies. First, we will recruit 100 patients with DSM-IV ADHD, aged 9 to 16 years, and 100 school controls. They and their parents will receive K-SADS-E interviews. All of them will have complete assessments of time estimation, time discrimination, and time reproduction. Their parents also report on SNAP-IV and CPRS-R:S. The 2nd assessments will be performed 3 months later after the subjects received treatment at outpatients. Anticipated Results: We anticipated that the ADHD group will have poorer time perception, particularly in difficult tasks, and the impairment will be reduced after treatment with medication