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Emotion Dysregulation and Emotional Impulsivity among Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results of a Preliminary Study

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Abstract

Recent reviews argue that emotion dysregulation is an important feature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and involves a failure to inhibit negative emotions that leads to negative affectively-driven impulsive behavior (i.e., emotional impulsivity). The goal of the current study was to assess (a) whether emotion dysregulation and emotional impulsivity was higher in a group of adults diagnosed with ADHD and (b) if the relationship between core ADHD symptoms (i.e., inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity) and emotional impulsivity is mediated by emotion dysregulation symptoms. A group of adults with (n = 18) and without (n = 23) ADHD completed measures of core ADHD symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and emotional impulsivity. A series of one-way analyses of covariance indicated significant between-group differences in emotion dysregulation and emotional impulsivity when current depression and oppositional defiant disorder ratings were covaried. In addition, the relationship between ADHD symptoms and emotional impulsivity was mediated by emotion dysregulation symptoms. These findings suggest that emotion dysregulation and emotional impulsivity are higher in adults diagnosed with ADHD and that emotion dysregulation symptoms have predictive value beyond core ADHD symptoms.

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Notes

  1. We included a measure of oppositional defiant disorder in our adult sample given that emerging research suggests that this disorder can continue into adulthood for some and is functionally impairing (M. D. Weiss et al. 2011).

  2. Of those taking medication for ADHD, 5 were from the student group.

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  1. Duke ADHD Program; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road; Pavilion East, Suite 300, Durham, NC, 27705, USA

    John T. Mitchell & Scott H. Kollins

  2. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Christopher D. Robertson, Arthur D. Anastopolous & Rosemery O. Nelson-Gray

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Mitchell, J.T., Robertson, C.D., Anastopolous, A.D. et al. Emotion Dysregulation and Emotional Impulsivity among Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results of a Preliminary Study. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 34, 510–519 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-012-9297-2

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