Impulsive aggression in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: symptom severity, co-morbidity, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder subtype

The study aimed to understand aggression, especially impulsive aggression, in young people with ADHD. Impulsive Aggression (IA) in ADHD is like a sudden burst of anger, usually more intense compared to what other kids the same age feel. This type of aggression is a key part of ADHD, and it's very common. The study also looked at how aggression links to other mental health issues in kids with ADHD, whether it's different based on the type of ADHD they have, and how severe their ADHD symptoms are. The researchers wanted to find out if this impulsive or reactive aggression is seen more often than planned or proactive aggression in kids and teenagers with ADHD.

The researchers looked at 268 children and teenagers with ADHD and compared them with 100 kids and teenagers who didn't have ADHD. They checked things like where they live, other mental health diagnoses, and how aggressive they were. They did this using methods like correlational analysis and ANCOVA, which are ways to see if different things are connected or if one thing affects another. The main goal was to see how aggression in kids with ADHD compares to those without it, and if ADHD symptoms are linked to how aggressive they are.

The study found that kids with ADHD were generally more aggressive than those without ADHD. This was especially true for kids with ADHD who also had other mental health issues, but not anxiety. The more mental health problems a kid with ADHD had, the more aggressive they tended to be. The severity of their ADHD symptoms was also linked to how aggressive they were. Most importantly, these kids showed more reactive or impulsive aggression than planned aggression. This tells us that kids with ADHD often react aggressively without thinking ahead.

Aggression, particularly the impulsive kind, is more common in kids with ADHD. This aggression is linked to how severe their ADHD is and whether they have other mental health issues that aren't anxiety. This study highlights the need to treat aggression as a key part of ADHD, especially in children and teenagers with more severe ADHD and additional mental health diagnoses.

Looking at ADHD more broadly, we see that different types of ADHD affect kids in various ways. For instance, boys with Combined type ADHD, which includes both inattentiveness and hyperactivity, might face more anxiety and depression. This affects their life at school and with friends. However, this Combined type often responds better to treatment. On the other hand, children with the Inattentive type of ADHD tend to be less aggressive. This study's findings add to our understanding by showing how impulsive aggression is especially significant in ADHD, impacting how these kids act and react in everyday situations.

Aggression in ADHD has also been seen in other areas, including driving, where ADHD has been linked with more aggressive and more dangerous driving.