Sluggish Cognitive Tempo: An Examination of Clinical Correlates for Adults with Autism

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  • Author(s): Brewe, Alexis M. (ORCID Brewe, Alexis M. (ORCID 0000-0002-3631-9545); Simmons, Grace Lee; Capriola-Hall, Nicole N. (ORCID Capriola-Hall, Nicole N. (ORCID 0000-0002-6430-2863); White, Susan W.
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. Aug 2020 24(6):1373-1383.
  • Publication Date:
    2020
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      11
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH)
    • Contract Number:
      R34MH104337
    • Subject Terms:
      Autism; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Cognitive Processes; Behavior Problems; Conceptual Tempo; Executive Function; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Young Adults; Late Adolescents; Depression (Psychology); Anxiety; Correlation; Check Lists; Child Behavior; Intelligence Tests
    • Subject Terms:
      Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; Child Behavior Checklist; Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/1362361319900422
    • ISSN:
      1362-3613
    • Abstract:
      Adults with autism spectrum disorder often experience co-occurring mental health problems such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, as well as impairments in executive function. Sluggish cognitive tempo, a cluster of behaviors including slow processing, daydreaming, and mental fogginess, has been shown to be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder. This study was designed to assess sluggish cognitive tempo in young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we sought to establish a preliminary estimate of clinically significant sluggish cognitive tempo symptoms and to better understand its phenomenology and associations with executive function and psychiatric symptoms in the context of autism spectrum disorder. Young adults with autism spectrum disorder (n = 57; age 16-25 years; 84.2% male) completed a laboratory-based executive function task, and parents and participants completed measures of the participants' sluggish cognitive tempo, attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Nearly one-third of the sample exhibited clinically impairing levels of sluggish cognitive tempo. Although sluggish cognitive tempo and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder symptoms were significantly correlated, findings suggest the constructs are distinct. Results also suggest that increased sluggish cognitive tempo is related to executive function impairment and depression, but not anxiety symptoms. Considerations for assessment and long-term impacts of sluggish cognitive tempo for adults with autism spectrum disorder are discussed.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2020
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1261155