What Is Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation (DESR)?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionDESR and Executive FunctionSymptomsOutcomesCausesTreatmentsCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

DESR and Executive Function

Symptoms

Outcomes

Causes

Treatments

Coping

Close

Regardless, it remains unclear whether deficient emotional self-regulation is asymptom of ADHDor a separate but related condition. There is still no agreement on how to define and study the condition.

Testing for ADHD

What Is Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation?

Deficient emotional self-regulation refers to a person’s inability to regulate their responses to certainemotions. This often includes:

People with ADHD who also have DESR generally exhibit emotional reactions disproportional to the situation. In other words, if you have DESR, you may react to a situation in the same way as someone who is underextreme stressor strain.

While DESR is not included in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, it can have serious negative effects on a person’s daily functioning and can worsen ADHD symptoms.

ADHD Symptom Spotlight: Emotional Dysregulation

To better understand DESR, it’s important to understand the concept ofexecutive function, as it underlies the capacity for self-regulation. If you think about your mind as a group of individuals, executive function is your brain’s ability to corral the group to coordinate getting things done.

In other words, instead of being scattered and aimless, executive function allows you to focus on what’s most important. It also enables you to shift tasks easily and keep the bigger picture in mind.

Some abilities generally grouped under executive functions include:

In general, executive function makes it much easier to respond to the demands of daily life. Executive function is often poor in individuals with ADHD.

It has been argued that the ability to regulate emotions does not belong on this list. Rather, emotion regulation is a thread running through all of these processes and, when it fails, the whole system fails. This explains why having DESR can impair so many areas of one’s life.

Coping Strategies When You Have ADHD

Symptoms of Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation

Let’s take a step back for a moment and outline the precise experiences that you might be having if you live with DESR. The symptoms of deficient emotional self-regulation typically include:

What looks like alack of willpoweris actually a flood of emotion that is so overwhelming that it’s virtually impossible to stay the course and be productive. This often leads toprocrastination, the inability to focus on long-term rewards, and trouble managing excitement and intense interest in new things.

Symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

DESR Outcomes

In addition to the immediate symptoms of deficient emotional self-regulation, there are longer-term impacts and indirect effects that can occur.

For example, one study involving 329 adults (206 with ADHD and 123 without ADHD) found people with ADHD who also live with deficient emotional self-regulation tend to experience more impairment in daily life.This can include effects on relationships, social life and rule-following.

With DESR, you may also experience feelings of fear, shame, anger, and hopelessness at your inability to manage your emotions, affecting many different areas of your life.

Causes of DESR

What causes deficient emotional self-regulation? A study of 23 people with ADHD, 27 with ADHD and DESR, and 33 with neither ADHD nor DESR, suggested there was a familial link between ADHD and DESR.This indicates there may be a genetic component.

Another study connected self-regulation issues with language deficits.This research suggested the better a child is at communicating their needs, the better they are at having them met, reducing the likelihood of an overly emotional response. Language abilities also assist with the development of problem-solving skills.

Deficient emotional self-regulation is also associated with sleep disturbances. A 2021 study found children and teens with ADHD who had more deficient emotional self-regulation also experienced more sleep problems.

DESR Treatments

Because DESR is associated with ADHD versus being formally recognized as a standalone condition, treating ADHD is also usually the treatment for DESR. The two main ADHD treatment options are medication and therapy.

Press Play for Advice On Handling Your Emotions

Medication

Prescription medicines can be helpful when used correctly and monitored to ensure side effects are minimized and the dosage is optimal. Thestimulant medicationoften prescribed for ADHD can also help manage deficient emotional self-regulation.

However, not everyone does well with medication as it ranges in can range in effectiveness, cause side effects, and interact with medications you may already be taking. It’s important to discuss these things with your doctor if you are considering taking medication to manage DESR.

Therapy

Therapy such ascognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)ormindfulness-based techniquescan also help develop better emotional self-regulation. These types of therapies train the brain to respond to triggers in different ways. They also teach newcoping skillsto help manage emotions when they become overwhelming.

For some people, therapy combined with medication is the most effective approach. This allows you to experience the optimal effects of both forms of treatment.

Mindfulness may also be a useful technique for dealing with this condition. A 2019 study found that children who were treated with mindfulness-based group therapy had lower levels of DESR after treatment.

Types of Therapy for ADHD

Coping With DESR and ADHD

If you have ADHD and also believe you are living with DESR, know you are not alone. Approximately 60% of people diagnosed with ADHD are also thought to have deficient emotional self-regulation.

There are coping methods you can employ on your own to help manage daily life. Ideas include practicing dailymeditationto increase mindfulness, gettingregular exerciseto help modulate emotions and keep track of how thefoods you eatmay contribute to emotional highs and lows.

Beyond this basic layer of coping, it is important to speak to your doctor or a mental health professional if you find it difficult to control your emotions or emotional responses daily.

How to Develop and Practice Self-Regulation

Recap

Given that DESR is not a recognized criterion for the diagnosis of ADHD, additional research is needed before we have definitive answers as to the best treatment options for those with both ADHD and DESR. Additionally, not everyone with ADHD is also living with DESR.

Therefore, the best thing to do is communicate with your health professional and make them aware of the symptoms you are experiencing. It is only through this awareness that better treatment options can be made available.

You may also consider reaching out to a support group to connect with people who can understand and relate to the issues you are facing. If no support group exists in your area, you may evenstart your own.

Finally, if the person with DESR is a family member or someone you know, offer them patience as they work through these issues. Your support during times of difficulty can be incredibly helpful.

How Is ADHD Treated for Children and Adults?

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National prevalence of ADHD and treatment.Spencer T, Faraone S, Surman C, et al.Towards defining deficient emotional self regulation in youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using the child behavior check list: A controlled study.Postgrad Med. 2011;123(5):50-9. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.09.2459Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.Emotional impulsivity and deficient emotional self-regulation might be core symptoms of ADHD.Surman C, Biederman J, Spencer T, Miller C, McDermott K, Faraone S.Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A controlled study.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2013;5(3):273-281. doi:10.1007/s12402-012-0100-8Biederman J, Petty C, Day H, et al.Severity of the aggression/anxiety-depression/attention (A-A-A) CBCL profile discriminates between different levels of deficits in emotional regulation in youth with ADHD.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012;33(3):236-43. doi:1097/DBP.0b013e3182475267Surman CB, Biederman J, Spencer T, et al.Deficient emotional self-regulation and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A family risk analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):617-23. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10081172.Petersen I, Bates J, Staples A.The role of language ability and self-regulation in the development of inattentive-hyperactive behavior problems.Dev Psychopathol. 2015;27(1):221-37. doi:10.1017/S0954579414000698Sanabra M, Gómez-Hinojosa T, Grau N, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation and sleep problems in ADHD with and without pharmacological treatment.J Atten Disord. Published online January 20, 2021:108705472098624.Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019;40(6):425-431. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000682

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National prevalence of ADHD and treatment.Spencer T, Faraone S, Surman C, et al.Towards defining deficient emotional self regulation in youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using the child behavior check list: A controlled study.Postgrad Med. 2011;123(5):50-9. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.09.2459Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.Emotional impulsivity and deficient emotional self-regulation might be core symptoms of ADHD.Surman C, Biederman J, Spencer T, Miller C, McDermott K, Faraone S.Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A controlled study.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2013;5(3):273-281. doi:10.1007/s12402-012-0100-8Biederman J, Petty C, Day H, et al.Severity of the aggression/anxiety-depression/attention (A-A-A) CBCL profile discriminates between different levels of deficits in emotional regulation in youth with ADHD.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012;33(3):236-43. doi:1097/DBP.0b013e3182475267Surman CB, Biederman J, Spencer T, et al.Deficient emotional self-regulation and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A family risk analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):617-23. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10081172.Petersen I, Bates J, Staples A.The role of language ability and self-regulation in the development of inattentive-hyperactive behavior problems.Dev Psychopathol. 2015;27(1):221-37. doi:10.1017/S0954579414000698Sanabra M, Gómez-Hinojosa T, Grau N, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation and sleep problems in ADHD with and without pharmacological treatment.J Atten Disord. Published online January 20, 2021:108705472098624.Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019;40(6):425-431. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000682

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National prevalence of ADHD and treatment.Spencer T, Faraone S, Surman C, et al.Towards defining deficient emotional self regulation in youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using the child behavior check list: A controlled study.Postgrad Med. 2011;123(5):50-9. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.09.2459Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.Emotional impulsivity and deficient emotional self-regulation might be core symptoms of ADHD.Surman C, Biederman J, Spencer T, Miller C, McDermott K, Faraone S.Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A controlled study.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2013;5(3):273-281. doi:10.1007/s12402-012-0100-8Biederman J, Petty C, Day H, et al.Severity of the aggression/anxiety-depression/attention (A-A-A) CBCL profile discriminates between different levels of deficits in emotional regulation in youth with ADHD.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012;33(3):236-43. doi:1097/DBP.0b013e3182475267Surman CB, Biederman J, Spencer T, et al.Deficient emotional self-regulation and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A family risk analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):617-23. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10081172.Petersen I, Bates J, Staples A.The role of language ability and self-regulation in the development of inattentive-hyperactive behavior problems.Dev Psychopathol. 2015;27(1):221-37. doi:10.1017/S0954579414000698Sanabra M, Gómez-Hinojosa T, Grau N, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation and sleep problems in ADHD with and without pharmacological treatment.J Atten Disord. Published online January 20, 2021:108705472098624.Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019;40(6):425-431. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000682

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.National prevalence of ADHD and treatment.

Spencer T, Faraone S, Surman C, et al.Towards defining deficient emotional self regulation in youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using the child behavior check list: A controlled study.Postgrad Med. 2011;123(5):50-9. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.09.2459

Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.Emotional impulsivity and deficient emotional self-regulation might be core symptoms of ADHD.

Surman C, Biederman J, Spencer T, Miller C, McDermott K, Faraone S.Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A controlled study.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2013;5(3):273-281. doi:10.1007/s12402-012-0100-8

Biederman J, Petty C, Day H, et al.Severity of the aggression/anxiety-depression/attention (A-A-A) CBCL profile discriminates between different levels of deficits in emotional regulation in youth with ADHD.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2012;33(3):236-43. doi:1097/DBP.0b013e3182475267

Surman CB, Biederman J, Spencer T, et al.Deficient emotional self-regulation and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A family risk analysis.Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(6):617-23. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10081172.

Petersen I, Bates J, Staples A.The role of language ability and self-regulation in the development of inattentive-hyperactive behavior problems.Dev Psychopathol. 2015;27(1):221-37. doi:10.1017/S0954579414000698

Sanabra M, Gómez-Hinojosa T, Grau N, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation and sleep problems in ADHD with and without pharmacological treatment.J Atten Disord. Published online January 20, 2021:108705472098624.

Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2019;40(6):425-431. doi:10.1097/DBP.0000000000000682

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