The relationship of self-reported subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms and impulsivity among adults with AD/HD

Psychiatry Res. 2014 Apr 30;216(1):131-6. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.01.034. Epub 2014 Feb 4.

Abstract

This study examined the degree to which subclinical obsessive-compulsive symptoms (SOCS) among individuals with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) were associated with response inhibition difficulties on a performance-based test. Participants consisted of 64 adults with AD/HD who completed the Conner׳s Continuous Performance Test, Second Edition (CPT-II), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (ADD Scale). Individuals with higher scores on the Obsessive-Compulsive Scale from the SCL-90-R made significantly more commission errors on the CPT-II; whereas other SCL-90-R scores did not demonstrate such a relationship. We did not find that SOCS were related to severity of AD/HD. These results supported the hypothesis that individuals with AD/HD with response inhibition difficulties tend to report more subclinical obsessive symptoms.

Keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Impulsivity; Intrusive thoughts; Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior*
  • Inhibition, Psychological
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / etiology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Self Report
  • Young Adult