Adult ADHD Diagnosis, Symptoms of Impulsivity, and Emotional Dysregulation in a Clinical Sample of Outpatients Consulting for a Behavioral Addiction.

This study focused on investigating adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among outpatients seeking treatment for behavioral addictions and identifying specific psychopathological features associated with the co-occurrence of adult ADHD and behavioral addictions. Among 65 treatment-seeking individuals diagnosed with behavioral addictions (including gambling disorder, gaming disorder, compulsive sexual behavior disorder [CSBD], food addiction, and compulsive buying), 29.2% were diagnosed with adult ADHD using the Diagnostic Interview for Adult ADHD-5 (DIVA-5). Adult ADHD was independently associated with greater severity of CSBD symptoms, higher impulsivity—particularly sensation seeking and positive urgency—and increased difficulties in emotion regulation, including challenges with goal-directed behavior, impulse control, and use of emotion regulation strategies during intense emotions. These findings highlight the importance of assessing adult ADHD in behavioral addiction treatment settings and suggest targeting specific impulsivity and emotion dysregulation dimensions in clinical interventions.