Clinical correlates of sluggish cognitive tempo in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
Amie Duncan, Leanne Tamm, Allison M Birnschein and 1 others
PMID 30426763WHAT IT FOUND
In adolescents with autism, sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms were linked to higher autism severity and more anxiety or depression.
Attention-deficit symptoms were linked to more rule-breaking. Both were linked to daily executive function problems, but sluggish tempo specifically related to planning and memory.
Key findings
01Sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms, but not attention-deficit symptoms, were associated with higher autism symptom severity.
02Sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms were associated with internalizing problems, while attention-deficit symptoms were associated with externalizing problems.
03Both sluggish cognitive tempo and attention-deficit symptoms were associated with metacognitive executive function deficits.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used cross-sectional data, so it cannot determine cause and effect. All measures were based on parent reports, which may not reflect the adolescent's experience in school or other settings. The sample size was small (51 participants). The measure of sluggish cognitive tempo used only a few items and may not capture the full range of symptoms. There is some overlap between the questions used to measure attention-deficit symptoms and executive function.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health. No other conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that sluggish cognitive tempo is a distinct diagnosis or that treating it will improve autism symptoms. The study shows associations, not causation, and the measure used was limited to a few parent-report items.