This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1087054708329778v1 13/1/56    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Coben, R. Articles by Myers, T. E. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Coben, R. Articles by Myers, T. E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Sensitivity and Specificity of Long Wave Infrared Imaging for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Neurorehabilitation & Neuropsychological Services, New York, robcoben{at}optonline.net

Thomas E. Myers

Neurorehabilitation & Neuropsychological Services, New York

Objective: This study was the first to investigate the efficacy of long wave infrared (LWIR) imaging as a diagnostic tool for ADHD. Method: This study was conducted to assess the sensitivity and specificity of LWIR imaging as a method of diagnosis among 190 patients (ages 4.4-57 years) with various diagnoses, including ADHD, who came into our office for neuropsychological evaluation. Results: LWIR imaging demonstrated a moderate level of sensitivity (65.71%) in identifying patients with ADHD and a high level of specificity (94%) in discriminating those with ADHD from those with other diagnoses. The overall classification rate was 73.16%. This was indicative of a high level of discriminant validity in distinguishing between patients with and without ADHD. There was a moderate level of agreement between LWIR imaging and multiple other diagnostic tests for ADHD. Conclusions: LWIR imaging demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic tool for ADHD. These results provide evidence for the efficacy of a novel, quick, and effective way to investigate the physiological basis of one of the most prevalent childhood psychiatric disorders.

Key Words: long wave infrared imaging (LWIR) • ADHD • diagnosis • validity • sensitivity • specificity

This version was published on July 1, 2009

Journal of Attention Disorders, Vol. 13, No. 1, 56-65 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1087054708329778


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?