Is ADHD a disinhibitory disorder?
Psychol Bull
; 127(5): 571-98, 2001 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11548968
ABSTRACT
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is widely theorized to stem from dysfunctional inhibitory processes. However, the definition of inhibition is imprecisely distinguished across theories. To clarify the evidence for this conception, the author relies on a heuristic distinction between inhibition that is under executive control and inhibition that is under motivational control (anxiety or fear). It is argued that ADHD is unlikely to be due to a motivational inhibitory control deficit, although suggestions are made for additional studies that could overturn that conclusion. Evidence for a deficit in an executive motor inhibition process for the ADHD combined type is more compelling but is not equally strong for all forms of executive inhibitory control. Remaining issues include specificity to ADHD, whether inhibitory problems are primary or secondary in causing ADHD, role of comorbid anxiety and conduct disorder, and functional deficits in the inattentive ADHD subtype.
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Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
/
Inhibition, Psychological
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Psychol Bull
Year:
2001
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States