Evaluation of executive functions and emotional impulsivity in Adults with ADHD and normal Adults

The present study aimed to compare the executive functions and emotional impulsivity between adults with hyperactivity disorder/attention deficit and normal adults. This research was ex post facto design. The study population was patients referred to the center of counseling and psychotherapy in Tabriz. The sample consisted of 60 subjects (30 adults with hyperactivity disorder/attention deficit and 30 normal adults) selected by available sampling. To collect the data were used from Canner′s adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity questionnaire, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, N-Back test, and Rey Complex Figure Test. To analyze the data was used multivariate analysis of variance. The results showed that the scores of executive functions in the fields of planning, inhibition, and working memory in normal adults were significantly higher than those of adults with hyperactivity disorder/attention deficits. This studychr('39')s results showed that scores of emotional impulsivity components of premeditation, persistence, and urgency in normal adults were significantly lower than adults with hyperactivity disorder/attention deficit. But there was no significant difference in sensation seeking between the two groups According to the findings of this study can be concluded that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder compared with normal adults have more impairments in executive function (planning, inhibition, and working memory) and emotional impulsivity (premeditation, persistence, and urgency). But there was no difference in sensation seeking Between the two groups. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.