Decision-making and Risky Behavior in Individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A 10-year Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT

We assessed 85 children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 50 typically developing children (TD) (M_age = 11.59, 57.8% boys) with the Hungry Donkey Task (HDT) at baseline and 2-year follow-up, and the Iowa Gambling Task at 10-year follow-up (75% retention). Improvement in the proportion of advantageous choices was observed from two- to 10-year follow-up, but the ADHD group improved less and was outperformed by the TD group at the 10-year follow-up. More advantageous choices on the HDT at baseline predicted less risky behavior at 10-year follow-up. Male sex and more inattentive or externalizing symptoms at baseline predicted more risky behavior.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants for taking part in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

This study was prospectively reviewed and approved by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in Eastern Norway (T1-T2: REK 6-2009-24; T3: 2018/1611) and the Privacy Ombudsman for Research at Innlandet Hospital Trust. The studies were conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association Assembly.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Innlandet Hospital Trust (grant numbers: 150610, 150624, and 150648) and from Norwegian Centre of Expertise for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Hypersomnias, Department of Rare Disorders and Disabilities, Oslo University Hospital (grant number: 150616);Sykehuset Innlandet HF [150610,150624,150648];