title: A multidimensional approach of impulsivity in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: We aimed to compare adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and matched controls on four dimensions of impulsivity (urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking) and to examine the association between impulsivity and ADHD symptoms. The study was conducted on 219 participants: 72 adult ADHD patients and 147 aged and gender matched controls. All participants completed questionnaires measuring the various facets of impulsivity (UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale), ADHD and depressive symptoms severity. Patients were also assessed for ADHD subtypes, mood disorders, and addictive behaviors. ADHD patients exhibited higher urgency, lower premeditation and lower perseverance in comparison to controls. Lack of perseverance showed the strongest association with ADHD (area under curve=0.95). Patients with combined inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive subtypes reported more frequently substance abuse problems and had higher scores on urgency and sensation seeking dimensions of impulsivity than those with predominantly inattentive subtype. We report for the first time a multidimensional evaluation of impulsivity in adult ADHD patients. The UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale may constitute a useful screening tool for ADHD in adults and may help to further understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying the differences between the ADHD subgroups.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, Unité des Troubles du Sommeil, Hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac Montpellier, France; Inserm U1061, Montpellier F-34000, France; Université Montpellier 1, Montpellier F-34000, France. Electronic address: r-lopez@chu-montpellier.fr.
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, Unité des Troubles du Sommeil, Hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac Montpellier, France; Inserm U1061, Montpellier F-34000, France; Université Montpellier 1, Montpellier F-34000, France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dauvilliers
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1061, Montpellier F-34000, France; Université Montpellier 1, Montpellier F-34000, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jaussent
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Science Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billieux
authors.affiliation: Université Montpellier 1, Montpellier F-34000, France; EuroMov, Laboratoire Movement to Health (M2H), France; Centre d'Investigation clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Impulsivity; UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale