Assessment of the Continuous Performance Test: Reliability and Validity in a Nonreferred Sample

Data for an "A-X" version of the continuous performance test (CPT) were collected from 138 7-11-year-old nonreferred boys. Most CPT measures were age-dependent, reliable, sensitive to decrements in performance over time, and resistant to practice effects. Most were unrelated to estimates of intellectual functioning, but several were significantly correlated with academic achievement. Reaction time data support the notion that CPT measures can be divided into distinct inattention, impulsivity, and dyscontrol scores. In this normal sample, correlations with behavior ratings were relatively weak. Further research is necessary before widespread clinical use of this instrument is warranted. However, it appears to be a useful research tool and may have a role in the assessment of attention and impulsivity in a wide range of psychiatrically, neurologically, and educationally impaired children.