Research shows hyperactive and attention-deficit children are more impulsively aggressive

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show more impulsive aggressive behavior associated with self-control problems and depressive symptoms, says a study published this Friday by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP).

Speaking to Lusa, researcher Joana Ferreira Gomez, emphasizing the difference between impulsive and planned aggression, warned of the need to better understand ADHD, a disorder that is still highly stigmatized.

“We don’t know what’s causing this. There are suspicions that there may be a genetic component (…). There are also believed to be associated environmental factors, such as exposure to more pollution. This is something that is born with the child, develops in the first years of life and is diagnosed in early childhood,” said the FMUP professor.

ADHD is a condition based on neurobiological changes that manifest as greater difficulty in inhibiting and adjusting behavior depending on the situation and have a marked impact on family, school and social functioning.

“People only see the most destructive behavior and associate it with a lack of education and something that is the will of the child (…). Many parents report lack of understanding even from people close to them. They tell them, “He behaves this way, so why?” don’t teach him” or “if it were me, I would give him two lashes.” This is why it is important to better understand this disorder. [educadores, familiares, etc.] those around the child play their role,” he emphasized.

The study, which is part of a research project called M2Child, analyzed 72 children aged 6 to 10 years living in Portugal, 38 of whom had ADHD and 34 who were typically developing.

Children were recruited through a website created for the project, through advertising on social media, and through referrals from neurodevelopmental pediatricians.

In addition to Joana Ferreira Gomes, the work published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry was written by Sofia Marques (University Luciada/CIPD), Teresa Correia de Sá (FMUP/i3S), Benedita Sampaio Maia (i3S) and Micaela Guardiano (ULS São João ) .

In addition to impulsive aggression, children with ADHD also have more depressive symptoms, more mood swings, and difficulty controlling and regulating their emotions, according to a summary sent to Lusa.

Joana Ferreira Gómez told Lusa that impulsive aggression and lack of inhibitory control (difficulty avoiding distractions and impulses) in these children are associated with emotional dysregulation, depressive symptoms and “negative emotions” such as “frustration, guilt.” fear and remorse.”

“We expected children with ADHD to be more impulsively aggressive, but they also had more symptoms of anxiety and depression, which was disappointing,” the researcher concluded.

The research team, which includes psychologists, nutritionists, neurologists, neurodevelopmental pediatricians, microbiologists and others, recommends a “personalized approach to each child” and promoting emotion regulation to reduce aggressive behavior.

Joana Ferreira Gómez said a global project could involve adolescents and adults to study this disruption of life trajectory.

“It is believed that these neurodevelopmental pathologies are trending on the increase not only because people are more diligent about diagnosis, but also because there are actually new stimuli, different lifestyles and environmental factors,” he concluded.