Attention impairments and ADHD symptoms in adult narcoleptic patients with and without hypocretin deficiency

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182085
• Publication Date: 2017-08-01T13:33:06Z
• Authors: Marco Filardi; Fabio Pizza; Lorenzo Tonetti; Elena Antelmi; Vincenzo Natale; Giuseppe Plazzi
• Keywords: Attention network; Depression

Background Attentional complaints are common in narcolepsy patients and can overlap with daytime sleepiness features. Few studies attempted to characterize attentional domains leading controversial results. We aimed assess the impact of hypocretin deficiency on functioning by comparing performances attention network test (ANT) narcoleptic (narcolepsy type 1—NT1) versus without 2—NT2) healthy controls. also addressed frequency severity psychopathological symptoms their influence ANT. Methods Twenty-one NT1 patients, fifteen NT2 twenty-two controls underwent ANT, which allows assessing three separate processes (alerting, orienting executive control), a psychometric assessment including questionnaires attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety depression symptoms. Results presented slower reaction times compared exhibited an impairment alerting relative controls, while control networks efficiency were comparable between groups. displayed higher ADHD inattentive domain than hyperactive depressive In NT1, positively correlated. Conclusions Despite shared slowing both NT2, selective was present only deficient patients. Clinicians should carefully consider deficits symptoms, clinical management narcolepsy.