Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41853080›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in psychiatry2026

Cognitive and emotional profiles in children with ASD, ADHD, and comorbid presentations: evidence for a distinct clinical phenotype.

Antonio Narzisi, Federica Barbetti, Maddalena Fabbri-Destro, Stefano Berloffa, Pamela Fantozzi, Valentina Viglione, Rosy Muccio, Elena Valente, Ilaria Accorinti, Elisa Foti and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Antonio NarzisiDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Federica BarbettiDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Maddalena Fabbri-DestroConsiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Istituto di Neuroscienze, Parma, Italy.
Stefano BerloffaDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Pamela FantozziDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Valentina ViglioneDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Rosy MuccioDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Elena ValenteDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Ilaria AccorintiDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Elisa FotiDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Annarita MiloneDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Ramona CardilloDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Gabriele MasiDepartment of Child Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology, IRCCS Foundation Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occur, yet their comorbid presentation (ASD+ADHD) remains under- characterized. Clarifying cognitive and behavioral profiles is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention. Methods: A total of 207 children and adolescents (ages 6-16) were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 6-18). Participants were grouped into ASD (n = 21), ADHD (n = 103), and ASD+ADHD (n = 83) cohorts. Group differences were analyzed through ANOVAs with Bonferroni corrections; Pearson correlations explored associations between cognitive indices and behavioral outcomes. Results: Children with ASD+ADHD scored significantly lower than the ASD group in working memory, processing speed, and full-scale IQ, while no significant differences emerged between the ASD+ADHD and ADHD groups. Behaviorally, ADHD participants exhibited higher externalizing symptoms (e.g., aggression, rule-breaking), while the ASD group showed greater withdrawn/depressed traits. The comorbid group presented the broadest dysregulation, with elevated scores across both internalizing and externalizing domains, including Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Notably, protective associations between cognitive abilities and behavioral regulation, present in ASD and ADHD, were absent in the ASD+ADHD group. Conclusions: Findings suggest that ASD+ADHD comorbidity represents a distinct clinical profile, marked by compounded cognitive impairments and pervasive emotional-behavioral dysregulation. These patterns underscore the need for differential diagnostic approaches and tailored interventions that account for the unique neurocognitive architecture of comorbid presentations.

Indexed as

ADHDASDbehavioral dysregulationCBCLcognitive profilecomorbidityexecutive functioningWISC-IV

Identifiers

PMID41853080
PMCPMC12993759

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.