Pain sensitivity and perceptual sensitivity are associated with severity of emotional dysregulation in children with ADHD: a cross-sectional analysis using the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire
Creators: name: Bruton, Alisha M.
name: Senders, Angela
name: Tost, Gabriella
name: Ast, Hayleigh
name: Robinette, Lisa M.
name: Leung, Brenda
name: Hatsu, Irene E.
name: Arnold, L. Eugene
name: Johnstone, Jeanette M.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Neuroscience
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: Computational Biology

description: Nearly 50% of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience emotional dysregulation or sensory over-responsiveness; this study examines their association. This cross-sectional analysis (<i>n</i> = 124) used data from the Micronutrients for ADHD in Youth (MADDY) Study, which enrolled children aged 6–12 with ADHD and emotional dysregulation. Sensory responsiveness was assessed using two subscales from the factor-analyzed Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire: Pain Sensitivity and Perceptual Sensitivity. Emotional dysregulation was assessed using the Emotional-Problems and Conduct-Problems subscales from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and a composite score from the Child &amp; Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5. Multivariable linear regression measured the association of pain and perceptual sensitivity with the severity of emotional dysregulation. In adjusted models, pain sensitivity was positively associated with Emotional Problems (<i>β</i> = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.52, 1.41; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001), Conduct Problems (<i>β</i> = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.44, 1.21; <i>p</i> = 0.0001), and CASI-5 composite (<i>β</i> = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.34; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). Perceptual sensitivity was positively associated with Emotional Problems (<i>β</i> = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.15, 1.35; <i>p</i> = 0.01) but not Conduct Problems (<i>β</i> = 0.27; 95% CI: −0.24, 0.77; <i>p</i> = 0.30) or CASI-5 composite (<i>β</i> = 0.12; 95% CI: −0.01, 0.24; <i>p</i> = 0.07). Pain sensitivity was associated with the severity of emotional dysregulation in this ADHD sample. To better understand possible causal links, longitudinal studies are warranted.Implications for rehabilitationEmotional dysregulation and sensory over-responsiveness are both common in children with ADHD and contribute to added challenges in school and family life.Two types of sensory over-responsiveness, pain sensitivity and perceptual sensitivity, were associated with emotional dysregulation in children with ADHD in our study.Sensory over-responsiveness may be a modifiable treatment target. Emotional dysregulation and sensory over-responsiveness are both common in children with ADHD and contribute to added challenges in school and family life. Two types of sensory over-responsiveness, pain sensitivity and perceptual sensitivity, were associated with emotional dysregulation in children with ADHD in our study. Sensory over-responsiveness may be a modifiable treatment target.