Psychopathologic Profiles and Clusters in Tertiary Clinic Referred Patients with Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Person-Centered Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a heterogeneous clinical presentation with patients showing very frequent emotional problems. In the present study, patients with adult ADHD were subtyped based on their psychopathology using a person-centered approach.

Methods: In the present chart review study, detailed findings of psychological evaluation conducted as part of routine care were utilized. A total of 77 subjects with adult ADHD were included in the analysis. Detailed ADHD symptoms, psychiatric comorbid Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnoses, and severity of mood and anxiety symptoms were evaluated in the person-centered analysis.

Results: Three clusters were generated using clustering analysis. DSM comorbid conditions did not significantly impact the clustering. Cluster 1 consisted of ADHD combined presentation (ADHD-C) with less mood symptoms, cluster 2 of ADHD predominantly inattentive presentation and cluster 3 of ADHD-C with significant mood symptoms. Patients in cluster 3 had adulthood functional impairment more frequently compared with patients in cluster 1. Patients in cluster 3 showed recurrent thoughts of death and suicidal ideation more frequently compared with patients in cluster 1.

Conclusion: Further studies are needed to confirm the relationships observed in the present study.

Keywords: Adults; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Psychopathology; Subtypes.

Figure 1.

Comparison of factor scores among groups. *Post hoc analysis: ¹ vs. ² <0.05, ^†1 vs. ³ <0.05, ^‡2 vs. ³ <0.05. ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, HAM-D: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HAM-A: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.