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Is ADHD a disinhibitory disorder?
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1117, USA. nigg@pilot.msu.edu
Psychological Bulletin
|September 11, 2001
Summary
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not stem from motivational deficits but shows evidence of executive motor inhibition issues in the combined type. Further research is needed to clarify these ADHD inhibitory control theories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often linked to inhibitory process dysfunction.
- Existing theories lack precise distinctions between different types of inhibition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the role of inhibitory control deficits in ADHD.
- To distinguish between executive and motivational control in ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Heuristic distinction between executive and motivational (anxiety/fear) inhibitory control.
- Review of existing evidence for ADHD and inhibitory processes.
Main Results:
- ADHD is unlikely to be primarily caused by motivational inhibitory control deficits.
- Evidence for executive motor inhibition deficits is stronger for ADHD combined type, but varies across executive control forms.
Conclusions:
- Motivational inhibitory control is less likely implicated in ADHD.
- Executive motor inhibition deficits are more plausible for ADHD combined type.
- Further research needed on specificity, causality, comorbidities, and inattentive subtype deficits.