OBJECTIVE: Social reinforcement can improve inhibitory control in boys with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggesting that hyperkinetic conduct disorder (ADHD + CD/ODD), a combination of ADHD and conduct disorder (CD)/oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), might show similar improvements. This study investigated the effects of social and monetary reward on response inhibition in boys with ADHD + CD/ODD compared to healthy controls.

METHOD: An incentive go/no-go task was applied. We hypothesized that the control group (n = 17) would show greater improvements in inhibitory control in response to social reward than the ADHD + CD/ODD group (n = 17), but that both groups would respond equally to monetary reward.

RESULTS: Both groups showed improved inhibition accuracy in the social condition and even greater improvement in the monetary condition. Interestingly, the control group altered their response strategy when money was at stake, i.e., they slowed down more dramatically in favour of stronger inhibitory control and, thus, a potentially greater financial gain.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not provide evidence for hyporesponsivity to social rewards in boys with ADHD + CD/ODD. Rather, our data suggest that both social and nonsocial reward procedures can be effective in behavioral interventions, but that monetary reinforcers may be more effective.