Takım Uğur, Belli Hasan, Gökçay Hasan, Köse Hüseyin, Arslan Akgül Hilal, Çakır Ali
Department of Psychiatry, University of Health Sciences, Erzurum City Hospital, Erzurum, Türkiye.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Health Sciences, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Alpha Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 1;25(5):598-603. doi: 10.5152/alphapsychiatry.2024.241630. eCollection 2024 Sep.
The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in narcissistic personality traits and empathy deficits in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after pharmacotherapy, focusing on psychostimulant treatment. Understanding these comorbidities is crucial for optimizing treatment and improving therapeutic outcomes.
This cross-sectional cohort study consisted of 75 randomly selected ADHD patients. The patients were started on methylphenidate or atomoxetine as per the indications for treatment. A Sociodemographic Data Form, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI), and Empathy Quotient (EQ) were applied. Based on the study design, Adult ASRS, PNI and EQ were re-administered to the patients at the end of 3 months of treatment. The levels of pathological narcissism and empathy in patients were assessed before and after treatment.
The median and minimum-maximum in PNI grandiosity score decreased significantly from 67.00 (30-108) before treatment to 60.00 (24-102) after treatment ( < .001). The mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) PNI Vulnerability score decreased statistically significantly from 63.83 ± 26.02 before treatment to 60.06 ± 24.64 after treatment ( = .003). The median and minimum-maximum in PNI total score was 134.50 (64-208) pre-treatment, which showed a statistically significant decrease after treatment ( < .001). The mean ± SD EQ score decreased statistically significantly from 33.86 ± 7.03 before treatment to 36.53 ± 7.55 after treatment ( = .001).
Psychostimulant treatment in adult ADHD patients can ameliorate narcissistic traits and enhance empathy, thereby improving social functioning and interpersonal relationships. These findings suggest that psychostimulants may positively modulate neural circuits involved in narcissism and empathy, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes.
本研究旨在调查注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）成人患者药物治疗后自恋型人格特质和共情缺陷的变化，重点关注精神兴奋剂治疗。了解这些共病对于优化治疗和改善治疗效果至关重要。
这项横断面队列研究由75名随机选择的ADHD患者组成。根据治疗指征，患者开始使用哌甲酯或托莫西汀。应用社会人口统计学数据表格、成人ADHD自我报告量表（ASRS）、病理性自恋量表（PNI）和共情商数（EQ）。根据研究设计，在治疗3个月结束时对患者重新进行成人ASRS、PNI和EQ评估。评估患者治疗前后的病理性自恋和共情水平。
PNI夸大分数的中位数及最小值 - 最大值从治疗前的67.00（30 - 108）显著降至治疗后的60.00（24 - 102）（P <.001）。PNI脆弱性分数的均值±标准差从治疗前的63.83±26.02显著降至治疗后的60.06±24.64（P = .003）。PNI总分的中位数及最小值 - 最大值治疗前为134.50（64 - 208），治疗后显示出显著下降（P <.001）。EQ分数的均值±标准差从治疗前的33.86±7.03显著升至治疗后的36.53±7.55（P = .001）。
成人ADHD患者的精神兴奋剂治疗可改善自恋特质并增强共情，从而改善社交功能和人际关系。这些发现表明，精神兴奋剂可能对涉及自恋和共情的神经回路产生积极调节作用，有可能带来更好的治疗效果。
