ADHD, Extreme Emotional Reactions Run Together in Families

By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D.on May 8, 2011

Siblings may have more influence on each other than previously imagined.

New research has discovered that individuals who have a sibling with both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR) face a greater risk of developing both conditions than do siblings of those with ADHD alone. 

Deficient emotional self-regulation is the condition of displaying excessive emotional reactions to every day events or situations.

“Our research offers strong evidence that heritable factors influence how we control our emotions,” says lead author Craig Surman, MD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD Program.

“Emotion and capacities such as the ability to pay attention or control physical movement are probably under forms of brain control that we are just beginning to understand.

“Our findings also indicate that ADHD doesn’t just impact things like reading, listening and getting the bills paid on time; it also can impact how people regulate themselves more broadly, including their emotional expression.”

Many individuals with attention deficit disorder often display high levels of frustration, anger and impatience along with the typical symptoms of trouble paying attention, excessive physical activity and poor impulse control.

Different from mood disorders, which include the persistence of certain emotions and behaviors, DESR involves brief emotional outbursts to situations that would generally elicit a similar response, but in a less extreme manner. For example, a person with DESR might consistently react to small disappointments by snapping at family members or co-workers.

Although some researchers have suggested that poor emotional control be included as one of the defining symptoms of ADHD, other studies have not clarified whether the two conditions are separate disorders that appear together by chance or if they are related. It was also unknown whether DESR is transmitted among family members, which is the case for ADHD.

The study began with 83 volunteers — 23 with ADHD alone, 27 with ADHD plus deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR), and 33 healthy controls — and then one or more siblings of each of the original participants were recruited as well. Investigators interviewed all participants to determine whether they met the criteria for ADHD and other mental health conditions.

Diagnoses were confirmed by experts who were unaware of participants’ diagnoses or their sibling status. Study participants reported any DESR-associated symptoms and were given DESR status if their control of emotional reactions was worse than that of 95 percent of a large group of individuals without ADHD, which included the comparison sample in this study.

The study showed that ADHD was more common in the siblings of original participants with ADHD than in the control group. However, co-occurrence of both ADHD and DESR was found almost exclusively in siblings of the original participants who had both disorders.

“Other research that we and another group have conducted found that individuals with ADHD who also display emotional overreaction have a reduced quality of life and difficulties with personal relationships and social success,” Surman says.

“Studies have shown that 4 percent of the adult population has ADHD, and this investigation is part of a larger study that found DESR in more than half of the enrolled adults with ADHD, suggesting that roughly 5 million adults in the U.S. may have the combination of ADHD and poor emotional control.”

“Increased recognition of emotional dysregulation, its frequency in adults with ADHD and the potential consequences of both conditions will help people get support for these challenges. Future research needs to examine both medication- and non-medication-based therapies and improve our understanding of who could benefit from these therapies,” he adds.

The study appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Source:  Massachusetts General Hospital

Related News Articles
-->Related Clinical Articles
-->

 

 

ADHD, Brain and Behavior, Children and Teens, Featured, General, Health-related, Mental Health and Wellness, Neuropsychology and Neurology, Research -->

« News Index

ADHDADD/ADHD OverviewADHD Quick Fact Sheet Attention Deficit Screening Quiz Symptoms of ADHDProblems Related to ADHDCauses of ADHDDiagnosis of ADHDTreatment OptionsMore Treatment OptionsADHD in AdultsMedications for ADHD Living with ADHD Blogs:ADHD In FocusADHD: From A to Zoë Recommended ResourcesBooksWebsites & OrganizationsEvidence-based Treatment for Children ADHD LibraryDozens of articlesAsk the Therapist about ADHDAsk Others about ADHD ADHD Q&AMore Questions & Answers about ADHD in ChildrenThe ABCs of ADHD Treatment of ChildrenChildren and MedicationsCoping Tips for People with ADD/ADHD Related TopicsMEDLINE ResearchTreatment NewsClinical Trials Connect with OthersJoin Our Support GroupOther Online Support GroupsRate 'n Review ADHD Medications
Latest ArticlesParenting Kids with ADHD: 16 Tips to Tackle Common ChallengesOrganization Strategies for ADHD12 Tips for Getting Organized for Adults with ADHDSolutions for Common ADHD SymptomsOvercoming ADHD: Helping Your Child Become Calm, Engaged and Focused Without a PillSuccessful Parenting with ADHD

 From Our News Bureau Computer Network Mimics Schizophrenic Thinking Art Therapy Alleviates PTSD Symptoms in Veterans
Just Published...Why Do Relationships Fail?Primordial SyllableLessons from my mother: Your depression is not your... Happy Mother’s Day, 2011
What's HotOsama Bin Laden is Dead: A Mindful ResponseadvertisementMost Popular News Computer Network Mimics Schizophrenic Thinking Art Therapy Alleviates PTSD Symptoms in Veterans Children of Bipolar Parents Have Highly Reactive Stress Hormone Positive Effects of Depression Higher Risk for Anorexia in Spring Babies Women with Mood Disorders More Prone to Osteoporosis Erratic Sleep Tied to Baby's Growth Possible Brain Biomarkers for Bipolar Disorder Secondhand Smoke Delivers Nicotine to the Brain Most Popular Blog PostsDo You Need a Mama Psychodrama? Happy Mother's Day, 2011 A Stress-Relieving Article for Professionals How to Spot a Narcissist Honoring Your Mom When Your Relationship is Thorny The Greek Miracle: How Ancient Greek Philosophy Can Save You, Or At Least Improve Your Life Psychotherapy Continues Decline as Depression Treatment Competing Models: When Mental Health Recovery Clashes with Twelve-Step Programs Life is Unfair. Now What? 6 Steps for Beating Depression Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter

advertisement
Find a Therapist

Users Online: 3074
Join Us Now!
Local GuidesAll Guides
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming


  #footer { height:220px; } #foot-mid { margin:0 0 0 40px; } Home • About Us • Advertise with Us • Contact Us
Privacy Policy • Terms of Use • Site Map • Disclaimer/Disclosure • Feeds

Download the Psych Central Toolbar

Copyright © 1992-2011 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 8 May 2011

Psych Central Professional
Psych Central Answers
Psych Central Blog Network
Psych Central News
Tests & Quizzes
Sanity Score
Forums • NeuroTalk

ADHD
Anxiety
Bipolar
Depression
Schizophrenia
Psychotherapy

We comply
with the
HONcode
standard:
Verify here