Impulsividade relacionada à emoção (IRE) e sintomas do transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH): reconhecimento clínico e intervenções

Abstract

Emotion-related impulsivity (ERI), defined as the difficulty in inhibiting impulsive responses triggered by intense emotional states, is presented as a relevant aspect for the clinical understanding of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to analyze theoretical aspects of the association between impulsivity and ADHD, clarify methods of clinical assessment, and list practical recommendations for managing problems that impulsivity brings to the life of the individual with ADHD. A narrative review of publications between 2000 and 2025 was carried out, in English and Portuguese, consulted in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. ERI is related to deficits in executive functions and difficulties in managing emotional states, contributing to significant impairments in academic, social, and occupational contexts. Evidence suggests that pharmacological, psychosocial, and psychotherapeutic interventions, especially those based on cognitive-behavioral approaches and contextual therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as strategies such as mindfulness, may favor the reduction of impulsivity associated with emotions, promoting greater emotional stability and functionality in the daily life of the individual with ADHD. It is concluded that ERI should be considered a central clinical target in the treatment of the disorder, although theoretical and methodological gaps remain that justify the need for future, more systematic, and longitudinal studies.