Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (Formerly Sluggish Cognitive Tempo) and Comorbid Symptoms in Child Autism, ADHD, and Elementary School Samples

This is the first investigation of psychological, medical, and neurodevelopmental problems in children with versus without cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) (formerly sluggish cognitive tempo) in autism, ADHD-Combined, ADHD-Inattentive, and general population samples. Mothers rated 987 children with autism, 700 with ADHD-Combined, and 303 with ADHD-Inattentive (5–17 years) and 665 elementary school children (6–12 years) on the Pediatric Behavior Scale. Comorbid problems that were significantly more prevalent in children with versus without CDS in all or most of the four diagnostic groups in order of significance were cognitive problems (comprehension problems, illogical thinking, forgetful, and thinks and works slowly), gross motor incoordination, depression, somatic complaints (stomachaches, headaches, other body aches, and feels sick), excessive sleep, anxiety, inattention, insomnia, academic impairment, bully victimization, autism, dysgraphia, and overweight. Comorbidities not differing between children with and without CDS in all or most diagnostic groups were hyperactivity, impulsivity, oppositional behavior, irritability/temper outbursts, aggression, bullying, suicide ideation and attempts, incontinence, underweight, seizures, speech problems, and low IQ. Given CDS’s association with multiple problems and functional impairment, its general population prevalence similar to that of other childhood disorders, and its high frequency in clinical children, it is important to evaluate CDS symptoms and comorbidity in referred children and intervene when symptoms are present.