Adult ADHD Patients: Emotional Dysregulation and Personality Dimensions

Objectives: To evaluate personality dimensions especially emotional dysregulation (ED), in adults with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to investigate differences in ADHD types and ED between patients and controls. Method: We performed a cross-sectional study of patients with ADHD and controls. The study population comprised 78 outpatients attending Arganda Mental Health Center (MHC) (Arganda del Rey, Spain) and 27 control patients, who were also attending MHC. The study was performed from January 2013 to August 2016. A review of ED and personality dimensions in ADHD is shown. Results: The DERS (Difficulties in emotion regulation scale) and CAARS (Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale) dimensions of ED were associated with ADHD. Some NEO-PI-R (Revised NEO Personality Inventory) personality dimensions are seen in both ADHD subtypes. Conclusion: In adult ADHD, several dimensions are compatible with ED. Some ED subscales (eg, awareness, clarity and no acceptance) are not specific to ADHD. High neuroticism and low conscientiousness are personality dimensions in adults with ADHD.