The Relationship Between Neuropsychological Deficits and Emotional Lability in Adults With ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which neuropsychological performance parameters implicated in ADHD might mediate the relationship between emotional lability (EL) and this disorder.

METHOD: Eight hundred twelve adult patients with ADHD were examined. EL was assessed using the EL subscale of Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). To assess cognitive and executive functions, a battery of neuropsychological tests was performed in 262 patients with ADHD and high EL symptomatology and 550 patients with ADHD and low EL symptomatology.

RESULTS: Several differences between groups were found regarding neuropsychological performance; however, nearly all significant differences disappeared when the effect of gender, inattention, and hyperactive symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities were taken into account.

CONCLUSION: Our results do not support the hypothesis that neuropsychological deficits are associated with EL in adults with ADHD.