Retrospective reports of childhood trauma in adults with ADHD Rucklidge, Julia J.; Brown, Deborah L.; Crawford, Susan; Kaplan, Bonnie J.
Material type:
- 1087-0547
Journal of Attention Disorders 9(4) 2006 : 631-641
This journal article reports the results of a study designed to extend previous work relating to recall of childhood experiences to investigate prevalence rates of childhood trauma in a population of adults whose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was not identified in childhood. A second aim was to evaluate the relative impact of ADHD and abuse on psychosocial functioning. The study combined two separate studies of adults with ADHD with 114 participants (40 ADHD females, 17 ADHD males, 17 female controls, and 40 male controls) who completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and other measures of psychosocial functioning. The authors argue that emotional abuse and neglect are more common among men and women with ADHD as compared to the control groups. Females with ADHD more commonly reported sexual abuse and physical neglect. Although childhood abuse is significantly correlated with depression and anxiety in adulthood, the authors argue that having ADHD is a better predictor of poorer psychosocial functioning in adulthood. They conclude by recommending clinicians be alerted that patients with ADHD symptoms have a high probability of a history of childhood abuse.