PROCRASTINATION IN ADULTS WITH ADHD

Abstract

This article addresses the relationship between procrastination and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, exploring underlying neurobiological, cognitive, and emotional factors. Using a narrative review of the literature, the work analyzes how deficits in executive functions, difficulties in emotional regulation, and altered reward patterns contribute to procrastination in this population. Procrastination in adults with ADHD is not a formal symptom of the disorder. Still, it is strongly associated with it, being influenced by difficulties in planning, organization, impulse control, and time management. Difficulties with time perception and the search for immediate gratification, common in individuals with ADHD, increase the likelihood of task postponement. In addition, emotional factors, such as anxiety, perfectionism, and avoidant automatic thoughts, intensify this behavior. The impacts of procrastination go beyond the individual, affecting their academic, professional, and social life, and increasing the risk of comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. Regarding treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective approach, promoting changes in perception and procrastinatory behavior through cognitive restructuring and the development of coping strategies. Online CBT emerges as a promising alternative to increase accessibility to treatment. It is concluded that procrastination in adults with ADHD is a phenomenon that involves several elements, requiring specific therapeutic approaches to mitigate its negative impacts and improve the quality of life of these individuals.