The Positive Illusory Bias

Prevatt, Frances; Proctor, Briley E.; Best, Lori Jean; Baker, Leigh; Walker, Jerry V.; Taylor, Nicki

doi:10.1177/1087054710392538

Cited by 52 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Important for the current discussion, the extent to which any childhood positive illusory biases persist into adulthood is unclear. Evidence of PIB in the global judgments of adults diagnosed with ADHD has been limited to perceptions of driving ability (Knouse, Bagwell, Barkley, & Murphy, 2005; Prevatt et al, 2012). In other major domains, as children with ADHD grow up and experience repeated failures and negative feedback, they may “get the message” and be less likely to espouse over-inflated global self-perceptions.…”

Section: Overly Positive Thoughts In Adhd: What Do We Know?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Incautiously Optimistic: Positively Valenced Cognitive Avoidance in Adult ADHD

Knouse¹,

Mitchell²

2015

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

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Clinicians who conduct cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) targeting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood have noted that their patients sometimes verbalize overly positive automatic thoughts and set overly optimistic goals. These cognitions are frequently related to failure to engage in compensatory behavioral strategies emphasized in CBT. In this paper, we offer a functional analysis of this problematic pattern, positively-valenced cognitive avoidance, and suggest methods for addressing it within CBT for adult ADHD. We propose that maladaptive positive cognitions function to relieve aversive emotions in the short-term and are therefore negatively reinforced but that, in the long-term, they are associated with decreased likelihood of active coping and increased patterns of behavioral avoidance. Drawing on techniques from Behavioral Activation (BA), we offer a case example to illustrate these concepts and describe step-by-step methods for clinicians to help patients recognize avoidant patterns and engage in more active coping.

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Section: Overly Positive Thoughts In Adhd: What Do We Know?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Incautiously Optimistic: Positively Valenced Cognitive Avoidance in Adult ADHD

Knouse¹,

Mitchell²

2015

Cognitive and Behavioral Practice

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“…This issue has been repeatedly described in the clinical literature on adult ADHD (Ramsay & Rostain, 2008; Sprich, Knouse, Cooper-Vince, Burbridge, & Safren, 2010; Zylowska, 2012) and the issue of bias in the cognitions of some children with ADHD—the positive illusory bias —has also been studied extensively (see Owens, Goldfine, Evangelista, Hoza, & Kaiser, 2007 for a review). Evidence for these biases and their effects in adults with the disorder is compelling, but more limited (Golden, Owens, Evangelista, & Micheli, 2006; Knouse, Bagwell, Barkley, & Murphy, 2005; Lui, Johnston, Lee, & Lee-Flynn, 2013; Prevatt et al, 2012). …”

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confidence: 99%

Development and Evaluation of the ADHD Cognitions Scale for Adults

et al. 2017

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The clinical literature on ADHD in adults suggests that “overly positive” or optimistic cognitions may contribute to impairment and failure to use self-regulation skills in this population, yet the research literature on this topic is limited. We developed the ADHD Cognitions Scale (ACS), a brief self-report measure of ADHD-related thoughts, and evaluated its psychometric properties in two large community samples (Ns = 262, 304). The measure demonstrated a one-factor solution that replicated in the second sample. Evidence of good internal consistency and also convergent and divergent validity was obtained in both samples. Scores on the ACS correlated with functional impairment, time management problems, and avoidant coping strategies. With additional study, the ACS may be useful to identify and track maladaptive ADHD-related cognitions during cognitive-behavioral treatment and to further study the role of these thoughts in ADHD-related impairment.

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“…Several investigators have found a positive relationship between ADHD and substance use or SUDs (Frodl, 2010; Katusic et al, 2005; Barbaresi et al, 2013; Upadhyaya et al, 2005; Baker, Prevatt, & Proctor, 2012). Other investigators have considered the role of CD in the association of ADHD with substance use (Charach, Yeung, Climans, & Lillie, 2011; Flory & Lynam, 2005; Harty, 2012; Rooney, Chronis-Tuscano, & Yoon, 2012; Ross, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and Nonprescription Stimulant Use

et al. 2014

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Objective To assess whether the relationship of an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis by adolescence to nonprescription stimulant use in adulthood is direct or indirect, via Conduct Disorder (CD) and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Method Data was obtained from multiple waves of interviews and questionnaires completed by 551 community based participants when they were between the mean ages of 14.1 and 36.6 years. Results The results of the Structural equation model (SEM) supported both a direct association between early ADHD and later nonprescription stimulant use (B=.18, z=2.74) and the relationship from ADHD to later nonprescription stimulant use (B=.01, z=1.72) via CD and SUD. Conclusion The longitudinal data supporting these paths suggests that efforts to prevent and treat the misuse of nonprescription stimulants may be more effective if attention is paid to those with a history of ADHD, as well as to those who also had CD and SUD.

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The Positive Illusory Bias

Abstract: College students with ADHD demonstrate self-evaluations that appear to reflect the positive illusory bias and that may be related to their academic functioning in the college setting and willingness to receive treatment.

Cited by 52 publications

References 41 publications

Incautiously Optimistic: Positively Valenced Cognitive Avoidance in Adult ADHD

Incautiously Optimistic: Positively Valenced Cognitive Avoidance in Adult ADHD

Development and Evaluation of the ADHD Cognitions Scale for Adults

ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and Nonprescription Stimulant Use

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