Title: Thinking outside the executive functions box: Theory of mind and pragmatic abilities in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Abstract: Abstract An endophenotype for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is executive functioning. In the autism and developmental literature executive dysfunctions has also been linked to theory of mind (ToM) and pragmatic language use. The central question of this review is whether deficits in ToM and pragmatic language use are common in AD/HD. AD/HD seems to be associated with pragmatic deficits, but not with ToM deficits. In this review we address how this pattern of findings might facilitate the understanding of the commonalities and differences between executive functioning, ToM, and pragmatic abilities. Based on the reviewed studies we conclude that ToM is not likely to be a potential endophenotype for AD/HD, while it is too early to draw such a conclusion for pragmatic language use. Keywords: AutismAD/HDExecutive functioningPragmatic abilitiesTheory of Mind We want to thank the organizers of the ToM meeting "Theory of Mind: Module or Emergent property" (March 2007, Wageningen, The Netherlands) for the initiative for this special issue on ToM. Moreover, we thank Sander Begeer and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of this article.