Retrospective Reports of Childhood Trauma in Adults With ADHD

Abstract

Objective: Although studies have documented higher prevalence of abuse in children with ADHD, no studies have investigated childhood reports of abuse in individuals identified with ADHD in adulthood. Method: Forty ADHD women, 17 ADHD males, 17 female controls, and 40 male controls complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and other measures of psychosocial functioning. Results: Emotional abuse and neglect are more common among men and women with ADHD as compared to controls. Sexual abuse and physical neglect are more commonly reported by females with ADHD. Although childhood abuse is significantly correlated with depression and anxiety in adulthood, having ADHD is a better predictor of poorer psychosocial functioning in adulthood. Conclusion: Clinicians are alerted that patients with ADHD symptoms have a high probability of childhood abuse.

Childhood abuse and neglect in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

“…Our results clearly showed that adult ADHD symptoms were associated with ACEs and emotional neglect and abuse. This was consistent with previous studies conducted with children [7] and adults [8]. Since there has been very few studies investigating the association of adult ADHD with ACEs, the present study provided important data.…”

“…On the other hand, only a very few studies have investigated the association of adult ADHD with childhood traumatic and adverse experiences. In one study, investigators have shown that emotional abuse and neglect were more common among all subjects with ADHD while sexual abuse and physical neglect were more common in females with ADHD [8]. It has also been reported that childhood ADHD symptoms were associated with dissociative symptoms in adulthood [9].…”

Diagnosing and Managing Complicated ADHD

“…Arnold: Abuse is an important issue to recognize. Child abuse and ADHD have a higher-than-expected overlap, [5][6][7] which could be bidirectional; children with ADHD sometimes seem to invite abuse by their behavior, and abuse could aggravate or even cause symptoms of ADHD. 8 Alternatively, an abused child may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can be mistaken for ADHD because children may be distant and fail to pay attention, as well as having interference with their cognitive functioning.…”

Managing ADHD in Children, Adolescents, and Adults With Comorbid Anxiety in Primary Care

“…Adler: The incidence of PTSD may phenomenologically differ between adults and children. 16 Dr. Spencer: Of importance is the fact that these disorders are not benign. In some samples, [17][18][19] comorbid disorders, particularly anxiety disorders, were shown to be predictors of worse functioning.…”