Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and early maladaptive schemas

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to present the early maladaptive schemas in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study sample comprised 107 participants, including 55 adult ADHD and 52 healthy volunteers. The age of the participants ranged between 18 and 32 years. Structured Clinical Interview Form for DSM-IV Axis I (SCID-I) and Structured Clinical Interview Form for DSM-III-R Disorders (SCID-II) were applied to all participants and Diagnostic Interview for ADHD (DIVA) for ADHD group based on DSM-5 criteria. The participants filled the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3), Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Wender Utah RatingScale-25 (WURS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). All maladaptive schemas were found to be statistically significantly higher in the ADHD group. As compatible with ADHD core symptoms, “Failure,” “Emotional Inhibition,” “Insufficient Self-Control” and “Social Isolation” were the most seen maladaptive schemas in the ADHD group. “Approval Seeking,” “Entitlement/Grandiosity” and “Punitiveness” were found the weakest schemas in the ADHD group. This study besides supporting the theory of early maladaptive schemas suggests that identifying and modifying maladaptive schemas interventions based on specific schemas can be an important and useful method for psychotherapy in treatment of ADHD. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.