Is waiting for rewards good for you? No association between impulsive choice, psychopathology, and functional outcomes in a community cohort sample

A stronger preference for immediate rewards has been reported in individuals with ADHD and other disorders. However, the consistency of the associations between this preference and psychiatric conditions as well as functional outcomes have been questioned. Research on its association with longitudinal outcomes is scarce. The current study used data on a choice delay task (CDT) from a community sample of Brazilian children (n= 1917). The frequency of the trials where children chose a later large reward versus a sooner smaller reward was compared for those with ADHD and typically developing children. The study also evaluated whether children’s preference for the larger delayed rewards is predictive of the presence of psychiatric disorders and functional life outcomes (academic performance, alcohol use, early pregnancy, incarceration, BMI), cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Children with ADHD and their typically developing peers performed similarly on CDT. Their task performance was not related to psychiatric conditions or life outcomes. The current results raise questions regarding the use of CDT with diverse populations and whether a preference for larger delayed rewards is predictive of positive long-term outcome as widely assumed.