The Relationship Between Cognitive Distortions and Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder After Accounting for Comorbidities and Personality Traits

This study examined the association between cognitive distortions and ADHD severity after accounting for depression, anxiety, and personality traits. Archival data were collected on 112 adult participants diagnosed with ADHD after an extensive assessment, which included inventories measuring mood, anxiety, and personality traits. Pearson correlations were used to assess the associations of ADHD and these comorbid variables. Regression analyses assessed the contribution of predictor comorbid variables to hypothesized associations with ADHD. Results indicated that the relationship between cognitive distortions and ADHD symptom severity was no longer statistically significant once mood, anxiety, and personality traits were taken into consideration. These findings illuminate the complex role of cognitive distortions, comorbidities, and personality traits in the presentation of adult ADHD. As such, this study has clinical and conceptual relevance for understanding the role, candidate mechanisms, and therapeutic targets of cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult ADHD, particularly the cognitive component.