The relationship between ADHD-specific cognitive distortions and adult ADHD after accounting for clinical syndromes and personality pathology

Philadelphia, PA

Introduction: Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience many difficulties in daily functioning, which are related to the symptoms of the disorder. Psychostimulants, although considered the front-line of treatment for ADHD, are not always effective. On the other hand, psychosocial treatments, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, is an evidence-based treatment, both in combination with medication as well as a stand-alone treatment for ADHD. It is theorized that some of the symptoms experienced by adults with ADHD result from cognitive distortions. Although, previous studies have identified a preliminary relationship between cognitive distortions and ADHD, which may be accounted for by comorbid disorders; these studies did not measure ADHD-specific cognitive distortions after accounting for these comorbidities. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between the frequency of cognitive distortions and the severity of adult ADHD after accounting for personality pathology and clinical syndromes, specifically, depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the study will investigate the relationship between two separate measures of cognitive distortions: The ADHD Cognition Scale (ACS) and the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD). Methods: The study will be an archival, cross-sectional, correlational research design. Data will be collected on adult participants utilizing an archival dataset comprised of adults who received a comprehensive intake assessment at an outpatient, university-based clinic specializing in the treatment and research of adult ADHD. Proposed Analyses: It is hypothesized that ADHD-specific cognitive distortions will predict, in a significant and positive way, deficits in executive functioning in Adult ADHD, after accounting for anxiety, depression, and neuroticism. ADHD-specific cognitive distortions will be operationalized as the ACS total score. Deficits in executive functioning will be operationalized as the Brown Executive Function/Attention Scale (BEF/A) total score. Anxiety will be operationalized as Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), depression will be operationalized as Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and neuroticism will be operationalized as Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). Further, it is hypothesized that there will be a significant and positive association between cognitive distortions as measured by the ACS and cognitive distortions as measured by the ICD. Implications: It is hoped that results from this study will provide greater understanding of the complex role of ADHD-specific cognitive distortions, comorbidities, and personality traits in the assessment and treatment of adult ADHD.