ADHD Symptoms, Maladaptive Schemas, and Dysfunctional Automatic Thoughts: Exploring Theorized Relationships in Emerging Adults.

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Journal of Attention Disorders Pub Date : 2026-08-12 DOI:10.1177/10870547261478353

Christie T Pickel, Brian T Wymbs

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults emphasize the role of dysfunctional cognitions in reinforcing and exacerbating distress and impairment. However, research supporting theorized connections between ADHD symptoms, maladaptive schemas, negative automatic thoughts (NAT; e.g., "I'm stupid"; "It's pointless"), overly-positive avoidant thoughts (OPAT; e.g., "I have plenty of time-I'll do it later"), and impairment is limited.

Methods: The current study sought to evaluate the cognitive behavioral framework for adult ADHD in a community sample of 141 emerging adults (M age = 19.84; 85.5% White; 72.1% female; 20% reported ADHD diagnosis), while controlling for relevant covariates (age, sex, and self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression). Hierarchical stepwise regressions were used to test theorized relationships between ADHD symptoms, maladaptive schemas, and dysfunctional automatic thoughts, and examine how each of these are related to impairment.

Results: ADHD symptoms and two maladaptive schemas (Insufficient Self-Control and Dependence/Incompetence) jointly predicted OPAT: ADHD symptoms and Insufficient Self-Control were positively associated with OPAT, whereas Dependence/Incompetence was negatively associated. Two maladaptive schemas (Insufficient Self-Control and Failure to Achieve) were found to be positively associated with NAT. Finally, ADHD symptoms and NAT were positively related to impairment.

Conclusions: Our results are consistent with the cognitive-behavioral framework for adult ADHD and underscore the importance of CBT clinicians addressing relevant dysfunctional thoughts (i.e., NAT) and underlying core beliefs (i.e., insufficient self-control) held by clients seeking care for ADHD-related impairment.

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ADHD症状、适应不良图式和功能失调的自动思维：探索新兴成人的理论化关系。

目的：认知行为疗法（CBT）对成人注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）的治疗强调功能障碍认知在强化和加剧痛苦和损害中的作用。然而，研究支持ADHD症状、适应不良图式、消极的自动思维（NAT，例如，“我很愚蠢”；“这毫无意义”）、过度积极的回避思维（OPAT，例如，“我有足够的时间——我以后再做”）和损害之间的理论联系。方法：本研究旨在评估141个社区新成人（M年龄= 19.84；85.5%白人；72.1%女性；20%报告ADHD诊断）中成人ADHD的认知行为框架，同时控制相关协变量（年龄、性别和自我报告的焦虑和抑郁症状）。分层逐步回归被用来检验ADHD症状、适应不良图式和功能失调的自动思维之间的理论关系，并检查每一种症状与损害之间的关系。结果：ADHD症状和两种适应不良模式（自我控制不足和依赖/不称职）共同预测OPAT: ADHD症状和自我控制不足与OPAT呈正相关，而依赖/不称职与OPAT呈负相关。两种适应不良模式（自我控制不足和无法实现）与NAT呈正相关。最后，ADHD症状和NAT与障碍呈正相关。结论：我们的研究结果与成人ADHD的认知行为框架一致，并强调了CBT临床医生解决相关功能障碍思想（即NAT）和潜在核心信念（即自我控制不足）的重要性，这些想法是寻求ADHD相关损害治疗的客户所持有的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Attention Disorders PSYCHIATRY-

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

6.70%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of Attention Disorders (JAD) focuses on basic and applied science concerning attention and related functions in children, adolescents, and adults. JAD publishes articles on diagnosis, comorbidity, neuropsychological functioning, psychopharmacology, and psychosocial issues. The journal also addresses practice, policy, and theory, as well as review articles, commentaries, in-depth analyses, empirical research articles, and case presentations or program evaluations.