Emotional Intelligence as an Evolutive Factor on Adult With ADHD
ADHD adults exhibit deficits in emotion recognition, regulation, and expression. Emotional intelligence (EI) correlates with better life performance and is considered a skill that can be learned and developed. The aim of this study was to assess EI development as ability in ADHD adults, considering the effect of comorbid psychiatric disorders and previous diagnosis of ADHD. Method: Participants (n = 116) were distributed in four groups attending to current comorbidities and previous ADHD diagnosis, and administered the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test version 2.0 to assess their EI level.
Results: ADHD adults with comorbidity with no previous diagnosis had lower EI development than healthy controls and the rest of ADHD groups. In addition, ADHD severity in childhood or in adulthood did not influence the current EI level. Conclusion: EI development as a therapeutic approach could be of use in ADHD patients with comorbidities.
ADHD is a neuropsychiatric disorder that affects 2% to 3% of adults worldwide (Faraone, Biederman, & Mick, 2005; Fayyad et al., 2007; S. J. Kooij et al., 2010; Simon, Czobor, Balint, Meszaros, & Bitter, 2009). ADHD symptoms in adults can cause clinical, psychological, and social disabilities (Able, Johnston, Adler, & Swindle, 2007; Kessler et al., 2011; S. J. Kooij et al., 2010).
Patients tend to present more difficulties in settling personal and working life and increased number of risk behaviors and accidents than non- ADHD adults (Barkley, Fischer, Smallish, & Fletcher, 2004; Reimer, Mehler, D’Ambrosio, & Fried, 2010; Weiss, Hechtman, Milroy, & Perlman, 1985). Moreover, three quarters of adults with ADHD show at least one comorbid condition (Biederman, Newcorn, & Sprich, 1991; Faraone et al., 2015).
The majority of the research on ADHD has focused on the defining characteristics of the disorder: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.