Relationship of impulsivity with severity of ADHD symptoms while controlling the effects of anxiety and depression in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to evaluate relationship of impulsivity with severity of ADHD symptoms while controlling the effects of anxiety and depression in a sample of inpatients with alcohol use disorder.MethodParticipants included 190 inpatients with alcohol use disorder. Participants were evaluated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Short Form Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF) and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS).ResultsImpulsivity predicted both severity of ADHD symptoms and inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive dimensions, even after controlling the effects of depression and anxiety in linear regression models. Types of negative affect that predicted dimensions of ADHD differed; similar with severity of ADHD symptoms, depression and trait anxiety also predicted inattentive dimension, whereas trait and state anxiety predicted hyperactive/impulsive dimension.ConclusionImpulsivity is related with severity of ADHD symptoms and dimensions of ADHD although negative affect that is related with dimensions may differ.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.