The Conners\u27 Continuous Performance Test compared with the attention problems scale of the Child Behavior Checklist in ADHD children

This study examined the relationship between errors of omission and commission on Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and parental report of behavior ratings as demonstrated by the Attention Problems scale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The study was conducted using 33 children who were clinic-referred for assessment of behavioral and/or learning problems. The CPT was administered individually to the child via computer while the parent completed the CBCL. CPT inter-item reliability was found to be borderline (.7960) for Omission Errors and unacceptable (.7748) for Commission Errors. A Pearson correlation matrix revealed significant correlations among Age and Attention Problems Scale, Age and Omission Errors, and Age and Commission Errors. Likewise, a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the Attention Problems Scale of the CBCL as the dependent variable indicated age alone as a significant predictor of parental report with regard to attention problems. Consequently, the study found that the Conners’ CPT scores of omission and commission do not correlate and should not replace a thorough diagnostic evaluation