The Diagnostic Value Of CPT To Diagnose ADHD And Other Factors Related To CPT

Objective: To study the sensitivity and the specificity of the CPT (continue performance test) test when diagnosing ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder )and compared with "the gold criterion"-the DSM-IV, and to apprise the value of CPT test in diagnosing ADHD. In addition, we study the correlation between the CPT performance of ADHA children and their personalities, gender, ages and the clinical types. Method: 80 children who have difficulty in studying and be suspicious of suffering with ADHA ,all be diagnosed by DSM-IV and at the same time all taking the test of CPT on computer, and all children finishing the EPQ personality scale in the same situation. Calculate the sensitivity and the specificity of the CPT. Then study the correlation between the performance of CPT of ADHD children who be diagnosed by the DSM-IV and the type of each personality by regression analyses. Result: The sensitivity and the specificity of the CPT are 78.33% and 70% respectively. The positive predictive value of CPT test is 88.68%. Among the factors of gender, age, clinical diagnosis and the type of personality, we found the age may influence the reaction time, and there is a negative relation between the two. No significant correlation can be found between the CPT performance and their gander or age or clinical diagnosis and personalities. Conclusion: When be used as a diagnosis tool in clinical practice, CPT may be a good method to diagnose whether a child suffer ADHD or not, because its sensitivity and specificity are relatively satisfied. CPT performance will not be influenced by the operator's personality, their gender and the clinical type. CPT can not only show if the patient suffer from ADHD, but also be a good indictor of the extent of the patient's attention impairment.