Danielle Kingdon|Christopher Cardoso|Jennifer J. McGrath
Research Review: Executive function deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and attention?deficit/hyperactivity disorder – a meta?analysis
Concordia University|Concordia University|Concordia University
background attentiondeficithyperactivity disorder adhd like symptoms common fetal alcohol spectrum disorders fasd fasd adhd groups display executive function impairments however ongoing debate whether pattern magnitude executive function deficits differs two types disorders methods electronic literature search conducted pubmed psychinfo 19722013 identify studies comparing executive functioning children fasd adhd control groups fasd groups included without dysmorphy ie fas pfas arnd fasd diagnoses effect sizes hedges g standardized mean difference calculated random effects metaanalytic models performed using metafor package r results fiftyone studies met inclusion criteria fasd n 2115 adhd n 453 controls n 1990 children fasd showed strongest consistent deficits planning fluency setshifting compared controls hedges g 094 078 children adhd hedges g 072 032 fasd associated moderate large impairments working memory compared controls hedges g 84 58 small impairments relative groups adhd hedges g 26 smaller less consistent deficits found measures inhibition vigilance relative controls hedges g 052 031 fasd adhd differentiated measures moderator analyses indicated executive dysfunction associated older age dysmorphy larger group differences iq sex diagnostic system consistently related effect size conclusions fasd associated global executive impairments executive function weaknesses consistent measures planning fluency setshifting neuropsychological measures assessing executive function domains may improve differential diagnosis treatment fasd