Relationships between experimental task and questionnaire measures of reward/punishment sensitivity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: One of the purported underlying causal mechanisms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is altered motivational processes. Questionnaires have been used to identify the characteristics of reward and punishment sensitivity in individuals with ADHD. However, these questionnaires were initially developed to measure individual traits related to anxiety (inhibitory) and impulsivity (approach) tendencies or differences in pleasure-seeking. These reward and punishment sensitivity questionnaires are useful but might not capture all relevant aspects of altered motivational processes in ADHD. The proposed scoping review aims to: (1) examine which aspects of hypothesised altered reward and punishment sensitivity correspond to constructs measured by existing questionnaires, (2) characterise the relationships between ADHD symptomatology and reward and punishment sensitivity as measured by existing questionnaires and (3) evaluate the consistency between the altered reward and punishment sensitivity as measured by existing questionnaires and experimental task performance. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Reporting of the scoping review results will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews and the Joanna Briggs Methodology for Scoping Reviews. Published English-language literature was searched in three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO) on 16 November 2023, with no restriction on the year of publication. Two researchers independently screened all identified titles/abstracts before proceeding to full-text review and additional handsearching of relevant studies. A narrative review and conclusions will be presented together with tables summarising the articles reviewed and the results organised by the three aims. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study reviews existing publications with ethical approval in place. Therefore, ethical approval is not required. Review results will be disseminated through academic conferences and peer-reviewed manuscripts. Scoping review results will also inform future research to measure and identify altered motivational processes in ADHD.

Moderating effect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder tendency on the relationship between delay discounting and procrastination in young adulthood.

Among adults with ADHD, one of the most common problems in daily life is procrastination. ADHD is characterized by attention as well as suboptimal decision-making deficits, indicating difficulty in making long-term reward choices. However, little is known about the relationship between suboptimal decision-making or temporal discounting (TD) and procrastination among adults with ADHD. This study aimed to investigate whether ADHD symptoms enhance the relationship between TD and procrastination. Fifty-eight university participants completed questionnaires about procrastination and an experimental task which measured TD rates in reward and punishment conditions. Only the reward condition showed that ADHD symptoms significantly strengthened the association between the TD rate and procrastination. This study revealed that even when ADHD symptoms were high, higher TD rates were associated with more procrastination, while lower TD rates were associated with less procrastination. The results suggest that procrastination interventions for adult ADHD-prone individuals need to pay attention to reward responses.

The Moderating Effect of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms on the Relationship Between Procrastination and Internalizing Symptoms in the General Adult Population.

Background: The symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are known to exacerbate the effect of cognitive-behavioral impairments on emotional burden. Although adults with ADHD frequently experience procrastination and internalizing symptoms such as depression and anxiety, few studies have examined whether the association between procrastination and internalizing symptoms differs by ADHD symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of ADHD symptoms on the association between procrastination and internalizing symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 470 adults (mean age=26.57, standard deviation=2.93) using self-reported questionnaires: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, General Procrastination Scales, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Conclusion: Participants with more substantial ADHD symptoms experienced more procrastination and internalizing symptoms than those with the less substantial ADHD symptoms. Therefore, procrastination constitutes the treatment target for those suffering from ADHD and comorbid internalizing symptoms. Alternatively, there was no enhancing effect of ADHD symptoms on the association between procrastination and internalizing symptoms. It is necessary to examine more precise and valid hypotheses and underlying mechanisms of procrastination in high and low ADHD symptom groups.

Changes in depression and anxiety through mindfulness group therapy in Japan: the role of mindfulness and self-compassion as possible mediators.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly being implemented worldwide for problems with depression and anxiety, and they have shown evidence of efficacy. However, few studies have examined the effects of a mindfulness-based group therapy based on standard programs for depression and anxiety until follow-up in Japan. This study addresses that gap. Furthermore, this study explored the mechanisms of action, focusing on mindfulness, mind wandering, self-compassion, and the behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systems (BIS/BAS) as possible mediators. METHODS: We examined 16 people who suffered from depression and/or anxiety in an 8-week mindfulness group therapy. Measurements were conducted using questionnaires on depression and trait-anxiety (outcome variables), mindfulness, mind wandering, self-compassion, and the BIS/BAS (process variables) at pre- and post-intervention and 2-month follow-up. Changes in the outcome and process variables were tested, and the correlations among the changes in those variables were explored. RESULTS: Depression and anxiety decreased significantly, with moderate to large effect sizes, from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. In process variables, the observing and nonreactivity facets of mindfulness significantly increased from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. The nonjudging facet of mindfulness and self-compassion significantly increased from pre-intervention to follow-up. Other facets of mindfulness, mind wandering, and the BIS/BAS did not significantly change. Improvements in some facets of mindfulness and self-compassion and reductions in BIS were significantly correlated with decreases in depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: An 8-week mindfulness group therapy program may be effective for people suffering from depression and anxiety in Japan. Mindfulness and self-compassion may be important mediators of the effects of the mindfulness group therapy. Future studies should confirm these findings by using a control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN CTR) UMIN000022966. Registered July 1, 2016, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000026425.