Emotional Assessment of Adults with ADHD through Event-Related Potentials. Systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: During the last decade, several studies have been shown that adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) not only have to deal with attention and memory problems, but also with difficulties in emotional recognition. Furthermore, the event related potentials (ERPs) technique has shown to be an effective way to investigate the neural correlates of such functions.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to collect studies that used experimental paradigms with emotional stimuli in combination with ERPs in adults with ADHD.  Method: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA statement. The following MeSH terms were used: "emotions”, "attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder," "event-related potentials," and “adult”. Of the 173 unique records identified, 8 met the inclusion criteria.

Results: For the early ERP components, adults with ADHD showed higher P1 amplitudes for negative and positive stimuli; and lower N170 amplitudes for positive stimuli, compared to participants without ADHD. For late ERP components, individuals with ADHD showed higher amplitudes of late positive potential (LPP) during the processing of aversive stimuli and emotional regulation.

Discussion and conclusion: In general, adults with ADHD showed lower performance on emotional tasks compared to participants without ADHD. This review highlight that through ERPs studies there are promising and novel proposals to evaluate the neural correlates of emotional processing in adults with ADHD.