ADHD Questions
Can ADHD make you angry?
Charles Li, MD
April 20, 2023
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Studies have shown that those with ADHD often suffer from irritability and anger.
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ADHD also causes difficulty with emotional regulation. Those with ADHD can be prone to emotional outbursts, including angry ones.
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Certain medications have been linked with a higher risk of anger in ADHD. In general, however, medication tends to help with emotional control.
ADHD is typically associated with hyperactivity and difficulties with attention. Those with ADHD have also been shown to have other difficulties, including emotion and anger.
There is evidence that those with ADHD have more episodes of anger and loss of control of their emotions.
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Irritability is common in ADHD, even though it is not a defining diagnostic feature. Irritability can be described as a propensity to react with anger, grouchiness, or tantrums disproportionate to the situation.
While it is not a formal diagnostic symptom of ADHD, it is common enough to be associated with living with ADHD.
One study found that 91% of children with ADHD described often feeling irritable.
31% had enough episodes of irritability to qualify for a psychiatric disorder called DMDD.
A study on children with ADHD found that most had experienced irritability symptoms. 31% met the criteria for an irritability mood disorder.
DMDD is a formal diagnosis of irritability that covers severe cases that interfere with daily life.
Emotional Control and ADHD
There is some evidence that ADHD causes emotional outbursts, including angry ones.
Beyond just a propensity for irritability, those with ADHD have more difficulty controlling their emotions. Some studies estimate that around 70% of adults with ADHD have difficulty regulating their emotions.
This can come in the form of angry outbursts or mood swings.
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About 70% of adult patients with ADHD report ED or emotional lability. Furthermore, ED also exists in patients with ADHD not suffering from any other comorbid mental disorder.
In fact, according to the study below, those with the strongest ADHD symptoms also had the most struggles with controlling their emotions.
Researchers found a significant link between emotional dysregulation and ADHD severity.
This link is so strong that some experts consider emotional regulation to be a key cause of impairments and symptoms in ADHD:
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Emotional dysregulation is now known to play a causal role regarding ADHD symptomatology. Along with executive functioning, reaction time variability and potentially delay aversion, emotional dysregulation should therefore be included in future theoretical models of ADHD, as well as in clinical practice when identifying the major impairments in this diagnostic group and when deciding therapeutic strategies.
ADHD treatment and anger
ADHD treatment can also potentially cause irritability and anger.
As shown above, those with ADHD already struggle with irritability and emotional control.
One study found that some ADHD medications can potentially worsen issues with anger.
A meta-analysis found that those taking Adderall had nearly 3 times the risk of experiencing issues with anger.
A meta-analysis found that methylphenidate reduced irritability by small amounts in ADHD. However, amphetamines were linked with a near tripling of irritability risk.
Fortunately, this same risk was not found with other medications, including Ritalin. More data is required to confirm this link. But, for now, there is evidence that certain ADHD medications can play a role in causing anger.
Key Takeaways
There is quite a bit of evidence linking ADHD with irritability and anger. Despite the fact that anger is not a diagnostic symptom of ADHD, it can be caused by many of the deficits of ADHD. Additionally, some treatments can potentially cause anger as well.
Fortunately, there’s also evidence that ADHD treatment generally improves emotional control. If you are concerned about ADHD and anger in ADHD, talk to your doctor about getting treated.