Attachment and Executive Functions in ADHD Symptomatology-Independent Inputs or an Interaction?

Łukasz Konowałek; Tomasz Wolańczyk

doi:10.3390/brainsci10110765

Attachment and Executive Functions in ADHD Symptomatology-Independent Inputs or an Interaction?

Brain Sci. 2020 Oct 22;10(11):765. doi: 10.3390/brainsci10110765.

Authors

Łukasz Konowałek¹, Tomasz Wolańczyk¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warszawa, Poland.

Abstract

Despite a multitude of research on executive functions and attachment in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a synthetic approach to the matter seems to have been lacking. In this review, we attempt to check the available data against two hypotheses: (1) executive functions and attachment influence ADHD symptoms independently; (2) executive functions and attachment interact to produce ADHD symptoms. We found no evidence falsifying the former hypothesis and some evidence to refute the latter. Limitations of current study approaches and suggestions for further research are discussed. Specifically, we propose an attachment representation, rather than attachment style, approach to measuring the mediation thereof between executive dysfunctions and ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; attachment; executive function.

Publication types

Review