OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of ADHD subtypes in tasks of focused, shifted and sustained attention in a visual attention test (TAVIS-III). Indexes of hit reaction time, omission errors and commission errors were considered for each task. METHODS: One hundred two children and adolescents aged from 6 to 17 years old recruited from one public and two private schools in the city of Rio de Janeiro with ADHD diagnosis, according to DSM-IV criteria, were evaluated. Three groups were created following the subtypes determined by the semi-structured interview (P-CHIPS). Group performances were compared in order to determine subtype effects. RESULTS: The combined subtype (C) was the most common group (n = 65; 63.7%), followed by the inattentive subtype (I) (n = 32; 31.4%). Hyperactive-impulsive (HI) group was excluded from statistical analysis due to its low frequency. The performance of the C group was found comparatively worse only in the sustained attention task, where subjects presented slower hit reaction time and committed more commission errors (p < 0.05) than the I group. CONCLUSION: Only in longer tasks of visual attention, combined patients had a worse performance than Inattentive ones.
Attention deficit; attention; subtypes; neuropsychological tests
