What Is a Continuous Performance Test (CPT)?

A Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is a computer-administered task that measures sustained attention, impulse control, and response variability over time. Unlike rating scales, which rely on subjective recall from a patient, parent, or teacher, a CPT produces objective, quantifiable data — reaction times, omission errors, commission errors — that can be tracked and compared across sessions.

Why clinicians use CPTs

ADHD rating scales are useful, but they’re inherently retrospective and subjective. A CPT adds a behavioral, in-the-moment measurement that complements clinical interviews and standardized questionnaires, particularly when:

• A diagnosis is ambiguous and additional objective data would help confirm or rule out ADHD
• A patient is starting or adjusting medication and treatment response needs to be tracked over time
• Symptom reporting is inconsistent across informants (e.g., parent vs. teacher)

What a CPT measures

Most CPTs, including AxonCPT, report on a consistent set of metrics:

• Omission errors — missed targets, associated with inattention
• Commission errors — responses to non-targets, associated with impulsivity
• Reaction time and variability — how consistently a patient responds over the course of the test

Where CPTs fit in an assessment workflow

A CPT is not a standalone diagnostic tool — it’s one input alongside clinical history, rating scales, and observation. Its value is in adding a repeatable, objective measure that can be re-administered during titration to track whether a treatment change is producing a measurable improvement in attention and impulse control.