Objective: This study aimed to investigate ADHD in adult outpatients seeking treatment for a behavioral addiction and to identify the specificity of psychopathological features if the behavioral addiction cooccurs with adult ADHD.
Method: Sixty-five outpatients consulting for a behavioral addiction were assessed for ADHD (DIVA-5), addictive disorder (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, gaming, food, and sex), impulsivity (UPPS-P), and emotion dysregulation (DERS-36).
Results: In our sample of outpatients seeking treatment for a behavioral addiction, adult ADHD was independently associated with higher compulsive sexual behavior disorder severity, "sensation seeking," "positive urgency," difficulties in "goal-directed behavior," "impulse control," and use of "emotion regulation strategies" in the context of intense emotions. A 29% of the sample was diagnosed for adult ADHD.
Conclusion: The association of adult ADHD with specific dimensions of impulsivity and emotion dysregulation, pave the way for future clinical and research perspectives.
Keywords: adult ADHD; behavioral addiction; emotional dysregulation; impulsivity.