Russell A. Barkley’s Behavioral Inhibition Disorder, an alternative to ADHD.

This is a model created by Barkley to be an alternative to the adhd concept.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that has been the subject of much discussion and controversy, in which the scientific community itself differs both in symptoms and treatment, and some sectors even question its existence.

The psychologist Russell A. Barkley, created an alternative model of explanation called Behavioral Inhibition Disorderwhich questions the role of attention in ADHD and which will be discussed throughout this article.

What is behavioral inhibition disorder?

Behavioral Inhibition Disorder is an explanatory model created by the American psychologist Russell A. Barkley intended this to be an alternative to the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) label.

This alternative explanatory model of ADHD revolves around the executive function known as response inhibition. revolves around the executive function known as response inhibition.. According to Barkley the main advantage of behavioral inhibition disorder is that it fits much better with the symptoms associated with the subcategories of ADHD: hyperactive and combined.

To better understand this model, the term executive function is described below.

Executive functions

Executive functions correspond to terms used in neuropsychology. This expression refers to all the cognitive abilities to which a person resorts when his efforts are oriented towards the achievement of an accomplishment or a goal.

These executive functions are essential to manage the cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes that enable a person to respond to any situation. processes that enable the person to respond to any situation. In the same way, they are vital for the performance of most tasks and functions that a person must perform throughout the day; especially those actions that involve the generation of plans, decision making, problem solving, self-control and emotional regulation.

The processes referred to by the term "executive function" can be subdivided into two groups: basic functions and functions derived from these. These functions are:

• Basic functions: response inhibition, cognitive flexibility and working memory.
• Derived functions: planning and organization.

The role of behavioral inhibition

Of all the executive functions of which the human being makes use, Barkley focuses on behavioral inhibition, giving it a crucial role in creating his own explanatory model of ADHD.giving it a crucial role in creating his own explanatory model of ADHD.

Behavioral inhibition is understood as the suspension of a response or a series of behaviors that the person has internalized or learned previously and that are usually automatic. The goal of this inhibition or containment is to solve any type of problem or task.

The functioning of response inhibition consists of, upon the appearance of a certain stimulus, suspending a certain behavior or action and substituting it with a new one. certain behavior or action and substituting it with another succession of acts or responses.. Another option is to delay in time this sequence of actions until the person perceives that it is the right time to carry them out.

Barkley's explanatory model

In his work "ADHD and the Nature of Self-Control", published in 1997, Barkley dedicates himself to structuring all the information about ADHD collected during more than 25 years of study and constitutes the explanatory basis of the Behavioral Inhibition Disorder (BID)..

Barkley assumes that the symptomatology associated with ADHD can be divided into three groups or genres. These categories are: hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit. However, Barkley only considers hyperactivity and impulsivity. Barkley argues that considering attention as a main symptom of this disorder may lead to error when treating it.

Likewise, within the executive functions mentioned above, Barkley emphasizes the work of response inhibition.. It also investigates how this can exert a number of detrimental effects on the other functions, which are subordinated to it in order to perform properly,

The following shows the relationship that behavioral inhibition has with the rest of the executive functions and the symptoms it causes as a result of this interference:

Alterations in nonverbal working memory 2.

Behavioral inhibition causes problems in the representation and transformation of information, as well as deficiencies in the ability to anticipate future actions and difficulties in time management. and difficulties in time management.

2. Problems in verbal working memory

In this case both verbal working memory and speech internalization are seriously affected. The main associated symptoms include impaired thinking skills, problems in following rules and integrating regularized patterns of behavior, decreased problem-solving skills, deficits in reading comprehension, and deficits in moral reasoning.deficits in reading comprehension and deficits in moral reasoning.

3. Deficits in emotional and motivational self-regulation.

Problems in the ability to express feelings and emotions, which become exaggeratedly disproportionate, deficiencies in perceiving the other's point of view and alterations in the regulation of motivation are typical symptoms caused by emotional and motivational self-regulation. are typical symptoms caused by behavioral inhibition in people with ADHD. in people with ADHD.

4. Shortcomings in reconstitution

Finally, the person may also encounter obstacles in carrying out behavioral analysis and synthesis procedures, as well as deficits in the ability to imitate the behavior of the person with ADHD. deficits in the ability to imitate, copy or reproduce behaviors. and a smaller variety of action strategies when solving problems or achieving a goal.

The role of attention

As mentioned above, Barkley eliminates the effect of attention as a major factor or agent in the Behavioral Inhibition Disorder model.

Yet he recognizes the existence of two types of attention. recognizes the existence of two types of attention. That attention which is externally controlled by immediate reinforcement and the attention that originates and is controlled by the person himself from within, which requires the inhibition of ongoing behaviors and is more effective for the achievement of long-term goals.

Thus, Barkley accepts that attention is also included in his model but that it is subordinate to other factors and that all people diagnosed with ADHD have difficulties in attention originating from within.