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.

Abstract

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 & 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> < 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> < 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.