Testing the relation between ADHD and hyperfocus experiences

Yvonne Groen; Ulrike Priegnitz; Anselm B M Fuermaier; Lara Tucha; Oliver Tucha; Steffen Aschenbrenner; Matthias Weisbrod; Miguel Garcia Pimenta

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103789

Testing the relation between ADHD and hyperfocus experiences

Res Dev Disabil. 2020 Dec:107:103789. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103789. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Authors

Yvonne Groen¹, Ulrike Priegnitz¹, Anselm B M Fuermaier¹, Lara Tucha², Oliver Tucha², Steffen Aschenbrenner³, Matthias Weisbrod⁴, Miguel Garcia Pimenta⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, the Netherlands.
² Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, 18147, Rostock, Germany.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, 76307, Karlsbad, Germany; Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, 76307, Karlsbad, Germany.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, 76307, Karlsbad, Germany; Department of General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
⁵ University of Groningen, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.garcia.pimenta@rug.nl.

PMID: 33126147
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103789

Abstract

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with hyperfocus, a transient experience of enhanced attentional focus and diminished awareness of time and the environment.

Aims: This study aims to investigate the association between the frequency, duration and pervasiveness of hyperfocus across different situations in adults with and without ADHD.

Method and procedures: Within a healthy sample (n = 1124), we analysed correlations between scores on the ADHD Rating Scale and self-reports of frequency, duration and pervasiveness of hyperfocus. An ADHD patient group (n = 78) was compared to matched healthy participants on all hyperfocus variables.

Outcomes and results: In healthy adults, the frequency of hyperfocus was positively correlated with ADHD traits; older age and higher education were correlated with fewer hyperfocus occurrences in a smaller number of situations. ADHD patients and matched controls did not differ in the occurrence, frequency, duration and pervasiveness of hyperfocus, but hyperfocus was less likely to occur in educational and social situations in ADHD patients.

Conclusions and implications: Hyperfocus experiences are not specific of ADHD patients. The divergent findings might reflect multiple hyperfocus dimensions (situational and motivational) assessed in different studies which need to be addressed in future research.

Keywords: ADHD; Hyperfocus.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / epidemiology
Health Status
Humans
Motivation
Self Report