Dysfunctional Cognitions and their Emotional, Behavioral, and Functional Correlates in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Is the Cognitive-Behavioral Model Valid?

Fernando Torrente*, Pablo López, Dolores Alvarez Prado, Rafael Kichic, Marcelo Cetkovich-Bakmas, Alicia Lischinsky, Facundo Manes

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the presence of dysfunctional cognitions in adults with ADHD and to determine whether these cognitions are associated with emotional symptoms, maladaptive coping, and functional impairment, as predicted by the cognitive-behavioral model. Method: A total of 35 adult participants with ADHD, 20 nonclinical controls, and 20 non-ADHD clinical controls were assessed with measures of ADHD symptoms, dysfunctional cognitions, depression and anxiety symptoms, coping strategies, and quality of life. Results: ADHD group showed elevated scores of dysfunctional cognitions relative to nonclinical control group and comparable with clinical control group. Dysfunctional cognitions were strongly associated with emotional symptoms. ADHD group also showed elevated scores in maladaptive coping strategies of the escape-avoidance type. Life impairment was satisfactorily predicted in data analysis when ADHD symptoms, dysfunctional cognitions, and emotional symptoms were fitted into a regression model. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy model appears to be a valid complementary model for understanding emotional and life impairment in adults with ADHD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)412-424
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Attention Disorders
Volume18
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • anxiety
  • automatic thoughts
  • coping
  • depression
  • dysfunctional beliefs

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