Impulsive behavior in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Characterization of attentional, motor and cognitive impulsiveness
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Impulsivity persists in adults with ADHD and might be the basis of much of the impairment observed in the daily lives of such individuals. The objective of this study was to address the presence, and more importantly, the three dimensions of impulsivity: attentional, non-planning and motor, in how they may relate to neuropsychological mechanisms of impulse control. We studied a sample of 50 adults with ADHD and 51 healthy comparison controls using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale Version 11 (BIS), and neuropsychological tasks, namely the Continuous Performance Task (CPT-II) and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The ADHD group showed more signs of impulsivity on the three dimensions of BIS, committed more errors of omission and commission on the CPT-II, and made more disadvantageous choices on the IGT. These results support the existence of deficits related to three components of impulsivity: motor, cognitive, and attentional among adults with ADHD. Most importantly, this study also highlights the complementary nature of self-report questionnaires and neuropsychological tasks in the assessment of impulsivity in ADHD adults. ( JINS , 2007, 13 , 693–698.)
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Of six studies investigating adults with ADHD on the IGT, two reported that adults with ADHD clearly performed in a more risky manner than NCs.
“Of the six studies investigating the performance of adults with ADHD on the IGT [59]–[64], two studies reported that adults with ADHD clearly performed in a more risky manner than the NCs [62], [63].”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Eight studies used implicit gambling tasks, of which two (25%) provided clear evidence that adults with ADHD performed in a more risky fashion than NCs.
“Eight studies used implicit gambling tasks, of which two studies (2/8 = 25%) provided clear evidence that adults with ADHD performed in a more risky fashion than NCs [62], [63].”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Malloy-Diniz et al. examined two different samples of adults with ADHD and found that in comparison to NCs, adults with ADHD obtained a lower net score on the standard IGT (Cohen's d = 0.79 and 0.70).
“Specifically, Malloy-Diniz et al. [62], [63] examined two different samples of adults with ADHD and found that in comparison to NCs, adults with ADHD obtained a lower net score on the standard IGT (Cohen’s d respectively = 0.79 and 0.70).”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Higher levels of risky performance were found in mixed samples of individuals with ADHD compared to NCs, which included studies that examined participants of all three ADHD subtypes or participants with ADHD-C and ADHD-I.
“If findings are compared across studies, higher levels of risky performance were found in mixed samples of individuals with ADHD compared to NCs, which included studies that examined participants of all three ADHD subtypes [40], [58] (2/10 = 20% of studies with positive findings) or participants with ADHD-C and ADHD-I [62] (1/10 = 10% of studies with positive findings).”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Group differences between ADHD participants and NCs were present in 2/10 (20%) of studies with positive findings in which participants were MPH-naïve.
“in which participants were MPH-naïve [62], [63] (2/10 = 20% of studies with positive findings)”
From Risky behavior in gambling tasks in individuals with ADHD–a systematic literature review (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- MALLOY-DINIZ, L., FUENTES, D., LEITE, W. B., CORREA, H., & BECHARA, A.
- Affiliations
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Universidade Fundação Mineira de Educação e Cultura (BR)
- University of Southern California (US)
- Venue
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2007-05-18
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 693-698
- ISSN
- 1355-6177 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-7661
- OpenAlex
- W2069536808
- Semantic Scholar
- 82c0ee6c1e86e69d60f558d7030b3ea977d26f0d
- Cited by
- 306
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 8.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- adult ADHD, impulsivity, attentional impulsivity, motor impulsivity, cognitive impulsivity, impulse control, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, continuous performance test, Iowa Gambling Task, decision-making, neuropsychological assessment
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cognition Disorders, Female, Gambling, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Neuropsychological Tests, Reaction Time
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