The relation of depression and anxiety to measures of attention in young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation

B. D. Hill, Todd A. Smitherman, Russell D. Pella, Judith R. O'Jile, Wm Drew Gouvier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

The relation between mood and attentional functioning in young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation has not been previously reported. This study examined the relation of self-reported depression and anxiety on attentional abilities among 161 young adults referred for psychoeducational evaluation. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Attentional functioning was assessed using the Trail Making Test, the d2 Test of Attention, the Conners' Continuous Performance Test, and the WAIS-III Working Memory and Processing Speed Indices. The unique variance accounted for by depression or anxiety was minimal (typically <1.5%); these null results were confirmed by diagnostic subgroup analyses and also after examining the interaction between depression and anxiety. These results suggest that performance on measures of attention within samples of young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation is minimally related to self-reported depression and anxiety.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)823-830
Number of pages8
JournalArchives of Clinical Neuropsychology
Volume23
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • Anxiety
  • Assessment
  • Attention
  • Depression

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The relation of depression and anxiety to measures of attention in young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this