The utility of quantitative electroencephalography and Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test as auxiliary tools for the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis

• Our study examined the utility of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA + CPT) as aids in the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• The IVA + CPT and QEEG showed valuable outputs that could discriminate between the ADHD and control groups (commission error: 82.1%, omission error: 78.6%, delta power: 60.8%, theta power: 56.4%).
• QEEG and the IVA + CPT can facilitate the diagnosis of the ADHD.

ObjectiveThis study investigated the clinical utility of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA + CPT) as auxiliary tools for assessing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).MethodsAll of 157 subjects were assessed using the Korean version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (DISC-IV). We measured EGG absolute power in 21 channels and conducted IVA + CPT. We analyzed QEEG according to the Hz range: delta (1–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), slow alpha (8–10 Hz), fast alpha (10–13.5 Hz), and beta (13.5–30 Hz). To remove artifacts, independent component analysis was conducted (ICA), and the tester confirmed the results again.ResultsAll of the IVA + CPT quotients showed significant differences between the ADHD and control groups. The ADHD group showed significantly increased delta and theta activity compared with the control group. The z-scores of theta were negatively correlated with the scores of IVA + CPT in ADHD combined type, and those of beta were positively correlated.ConclusionsIVA + CPT and QEEG significantly discriminated between ADHD and control groups. The commission error of IVA + CPT showed an accuracy of 82.1%, and the omission error of IVA + CPT showed an accuracy of 78.6%.SignificanceThe IVA + CPT and QEEG are expected to be valuable tools for aiding ADHD diagnosis accurately.