Gender Differences in Cognitive Distortions in Adults with ADHD

Research has established that men and women with ADHD often manifest varying symptom constellations and are typically referred at different ages for initial evaluation. However, there is a dearth of research into how such gender differences may impact the manifestation of various psychological processes, such as cognitive distortions, even though the latter may explain up to half the variance in many clinical syndromes and personality disorders. The primary objective of this study was to identify whether there is a significant difference in the frequency of cognitive distortions between men and women with ADHD. The secondary objective was to determine the relationship between executive-functioning deficits, severity of functional impairment, and gender in relation to the frequency of cognitive distortions. Data were collected from an archival data set from an outpatient university-based adult ADHD specialty clinic in a large northeastern city. Participants were adults diagnosed with ADHD by a comprehensive evaluation including the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, Inventory of Cognitive Distortions, Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale, Barkley Functional Impairment Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Penn State Worry Questionnaire. A multiple logistic regression indicated that gender was not predicted by Big Five personality factors of neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness; depression; or cognitive distortions in adults with ADHD. However, a hierarchical multiple regression indicated a statistically significant, positive linear relationship between depressed mood, conscientiousness, and functional impairment on the one hand and frequency of cognitive distortions on the other hand. Implications for assessment and treatment of adult ADHD are discussed