Anxiety and metacognition in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objectives: Psychotherapeutic interventions are known to be useful in ADHD for the adolescent who has not adequately responded to drug therapy. In ADHD, cognitive and emotional factors which impacting clinical picture should define in order to enrich cognitive-behavioral interventions on behalf of adolescents. This study aims to identify anxiety, behavioral systems, and metacognitive features and the interaction of these -additionally, the effect of these on ADHD clinic. Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 132 patients (82 males, 50 females) aged between 12-18 years who diagnosed with ADHD (ADHD-I: % 35,6, ADHD-C: % 64,4). Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C), Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI), Meta-Cognition Questionnaire for Child and Adolescents (MCQ-C), Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Scale (BIS-BAS) were applied. Results: STAI, CASI, BIS/BAS scores did not differ between ADHD subtypes. Adolescents with ADHD-C have more positive beliefs than ADHD-I. The severity of ADHD symptoms was positively correlated with STAI and CASI and, negatively correlated with BAS-reward sensitivity scores. BAS-drive and BAS-fun-seeking scores positively correlated with Oppositional and Emotional Lability scores. In ADHD patients without comorbidity, SPR beliefs positively correlated with oppositional, hyperactivity and, emotional lability scores. STAI and CASI scores showed a positive correlation. STAI-T scores positively correlated with MCQ-CA, BAS-fun-seeking, BAS-drive scores. The increase in the MCQ-total related to increase in all BIS/BAS and CASI scores. BIS scores positively correlated with cognitive AS scores. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that anxiety, metacognitive beliefs, and behavioral systems are firmly related to the ADHD clinic and also each other. Cognitive and emotional characteristics which are defined should take into consideration for cognitive-behavioral interventions. Keywords:Adolescent, Anxiety,Anxiety Sensitivity, Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder,BIS/BAS, Metacognition.