Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Personality characteristics in DSM-IV-TR diagnosed and symptomatic samples

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) as an instrument to assist in the differential diagnosis between two groups of self-referred adults: those meeting diagnostic criteria for adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a Symptomatic Group reporting symptoms similar to adult ADHD that might be better accounted for by another psychiatric diagnosis. It also sought to examine specific differences in personality functioning between those two groups of adults and to determine the frequency of other psychiatric disorders in the Symptomatic Group not warranting an adult ADHD diagnosis.;The study utilized archival data from individuals who were self-referred for symptoms of inattention and attended an ADHD screening group at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. All patients who attended the ADHD screening group filled out an ADHD history questionnaire and took the standardized Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) and PAI assessment measures. Out of 144 patients who attended the group, 43 adults or 30% were diagnosed with adult ADHD, while 58% of the individuals were found to suffer from another psychological disorder. The number of participants with valid PAI and CAARS reports that were included in the study was 107 (36 ADHD, 71 symptomatic). The study found that the CAARS Self Report did not differ for the two groups, but the CAARS Other Report showed differences between the groups on the scales measuring Hyperactivity/Impulsivity and Total ADHD Symptoms. The study found that there were significant differences on the PAI between the two groups. The Mania (MAN) and Antisocial (ANT) scales were significantly more often elevated for adults with ADHD while the Symptomatic Group manifested PAI profiles with more frequent elevations of scales assessing Anxiety (ANX), Anxiety Related Disorders (ARD), and Depression (DEP). The study also found that those disorders most prevalent in the Symptomatic Group included: Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders and Substance Abuse Disorders. The findings were consistent with other literature on the personality traits of adults with ADHD having characteristics of heightened activity level, risk-taking behavior, and stimulus seeking. Limitations of the study included a small sample size and not accounting for the comorbid disorders comprising the ADHD Group. Future research on adult ADHD may benefit from looking at gender differences, the PAI subscales as well as the clinical scales, and evaluating personality differnces between ADHD subtypes. Overall, the findings suggest that the PAI may serve as a useful tool in assisting with differential diagnosis of adult ADHD.