A-124: Associations Between Somatic/Cognitive Complaints and Self-Reported Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms in Adults With and Without ADHD

Abstract

Objective: The MMPI-2-RF contains Somatic/Cognitive scales that assess related concerns across multiple domains. Individuals with ADHD often report somatic/cognitive complaints, yet few studies have examined associations between somatic concerns and ADHD-like symptoms across different somatic/cognitive domains or compared patterns in adults with versus without ADHD. This study examined associations between somatic/cognitive complaints and self-reported symptoms in adults with and without ADHD. Method/Data Selection: Participants included 454 patients (Mage=29.2, SD=7.67; Medu=16.0, SD=2.02; 61.7% female) referred for an ADHD evaluation at a midwestern academic medical center. Participants completed the MMPI-2-RF and Clinical Assessment of Attention Deficit-Adult (CAT-A). Multiple linear regressions examined associations between select Somatic/Cognitive scales (MLS, GIC, NUC, COG) and current ADHD symptoms in the full sample and in ADHD (n=333) and non-ADHD (n=121) groups. Results/Data Synthesis: GIC and COG significantly predicted current ADHD symptoms in the full sample (R2=.166, p<.001), ADHD (R2=.107, p<.001), and non-ADHD (R2=.402, p<.001) groups. MLS and NUC were not significant predictors. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal and cognitive complaints were significantly associated with self-reported ADHD-like symptoms in adults with and without ADHD. The strength of the associations varied by group, suggesting associations between somatic/cognitive complaints and ADHD-like symptoms may differ depending on diagnosis. Future research should further examine these associations and their impact on inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.