Similarities between emotional dysregulation in adults suffering from ADHD and bipolar patients

Abstract

a b s t r a c tBackground: Emotional dysregulation in subjects with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a topic of growing interest among clinicians and researchers. The present study aims at investigating components of emotional dysregulation in adults ADHD compared to subjects suffering from bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: A total of 150 adults ADHD, 335 adults BD subjects and 48 controls were assessed using the Affective Lability Scale (ALS) and the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), measuring respectively emotion lability and emotion responsiveness. Results: ADHD and BD subjects scored significantly higher on the ALS compared to controls (p¼0.0001). BD subjects scored above ADHD ones (3.07 (SD¼0.66) vs. 2.30 (SD¼ 0.68); po0.0001). The average total scores achieved on the AIM were significantly different for the three groups (p¼0.0001) with significantly higher scores for ADHD subjects compared to BD ones (3.74 (SD¼ 0.59) vs. 3.56 (SD¼0.69); po0.0001). Limitations: Suspected cases of ADHD in the BD and control groups were derived from the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). This study is a retrospective one. Conclusion: Our study thus highlights the importance of emotional dysregulation in adults suffering from ADHD, showing that they display higher emotional intensity than bipolar disorder subjects and controls. Although the current diagnostic criteria of ADHD do not contain an emotional dimension, a better recognition of the significance of emotional responsiveness in ADHD patients can improve the care afforded to these patients, beyond the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive components.

Emotion dysregulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis

“…Moreover, the studies by Bisch et al [37], Miller et al [40], Rapport et al [50] and Rüfenacht et al [43] demonstrated a distinct difference between groups regarding the facet of emotion recognition (p < 0.01 for all of them). In addition, emotional lability and negative emotional responses were significantly associated in patients with ADHD in investigations by Mitchell et al [41], Richard-Lepouriel et al [45], Rüfenacht et al [43] and Skirrow & Asherson [8] (p < 0.01, for all of them).…”

“…We used ten of them ([8, 37-47], to run our between-group analysis, as they reported their data for both groups with ADHD and healthy controls. Furthermore, four studies [38,41,45,48] were included to run our within-group analysis, as they only reported data on clinical groups. Moreover, with respect to the identified dimensions of ED, Bodalski, Knouse & Kovalev [47], Cavelti et al [46], Corbisiero et al [38], Irastorza [39], Reimherr et al [48] and Surman et al [38] reported overall measures of ED.…”

“…The measures used by Bisch et al [37], Miller et al [41] and Rapport et al [50] match the facet of emotion recognition. Mitchell et al [41], Richard-Lepouriel et al [45] and Skirrow & Asherson [8] operationalized ED by using scales that assessed the facets of emotional lability and negative emotional responses. Rüfenacht et al, (2019) evaluated all the three dimensions of negative emotional responses, emotion recognition and emotional liability in addition to a total assessment of ED.…”

“…Miller et al [40] and Rapport et al [50] administered the Diagnostic Assessment of Nonverbal Accuracy (DANVA [52];) as an assessment to identify facial emotional expression. In addition, Rapport et al [50] and Richard-Lepouriel et al [45] administered The Affect Intensity Measure (AIM; [53] to examine experienced aspects of emotion. Richard-Lepouriel et al [45] and Skirrow & Asherson [8] also employed the Self-rated Affective Lability Scale (ALS [54]) to measure emotional lability and negative emotional responses.…”

“…In addition, Rapport et al [50] and Richard-Lepouriel et al [45] administered The Affect Intensity Measure (AIM; [53] to examine experienced aspects of emotion. Richard-Lepouriel et al [45] and Skirrow & Asherson [8] also employed the Self-rated Affective Lability Scale (ALS [54]) to measure emotional lability and negative emotional responses. Bisch et al [37] employed the Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SREIT, [55]) to measure the ability to recognize, manage, and engage in one's own and others' emotions.…”