Abstract

Objective: In a subgroup of adult patients with a childhood diagnosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the symptoms decrease but persist at sub-threshold levels, although not fulfilling DSM 5 criteria for ADHD. Diagnostic difficulties, chronicity of the situation and psychiatric comorbidities also increase the risk of personality disorders in this group of patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relations between this subgroup of ADHD and personality characteristics in a population who did not attend a clinic for psychiatric problems.
Method: Hundred and twenty two of students from different faculties of a university are included in the study. Turgay’s Adult ADHD Rating Scale is used to evaluate ADHD symptoms and Cloninger’s Character and Temperament Inventory (TCI) is used to evaluate personality characteristics.
Results: Moderate levels of ADHD symptoms were present in 14.7% of cases. This group also showed statistically lower scores in cooperativeness and self-directedness in TCI with respect to students who showed low levels of ADHD symptomatology. There were also statistically significant correlations between TCI subgroups and ADHD symptoms.
Conclusion: ADHD symptoms should be investigated particularly, as they are temperamental traits for the development of personality characteristics.

Key words: Attention deficit/hyperactivity, character, personality disorders, temperament