Journal of Traumatic Stress Disorders & TreatmentISSN: 2324-8947

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Research Article, J Trauma Stress Disor Treat Vol: 4 Issue: 3

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Attachment Features in Adults with ADHD

Marc-Andreas Edel1*, Julia Weber1, Martin Brüne1 and Hans-Jörg Assion2
1Department of Psychiatry, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
2Psychiatry Clinic, LWL Hospital Dortmund, Germany
Corresponding author : Marc-Andreas Edel
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Alexandrinenstr. 1–3, 44791 Bochum, Germany
Tel: +49-234-5077-0; Fax: +49-234-5077-1329
E-mail: marc-andreas.edel@rub.de
Received: April 17, 2015 Accepted: October 09, 2015 Published: October 15,2015
Citation: Edel MA, Weber J, Brüne M, Assion HJ (2015) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Attachment Features in Adults with ADHD. J Trauma Stress Disor Treat 4:3. doi:10.4172/2324-8947.1000144

Abstract

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Attachment Features in Adults with ADHD

Background: To assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to explore possible associations of early adverse experiences and ADHD symptoms in childhood with posttraumatic stress and attachment dysfunction in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Methods: Prevalence of current and lifetime PTSD, adverse experiences (dysfunctional parenting and traumatization) and ADHD symptoms in childhood, and posttraumatic stress features, attachment styles, and ADHD symptoms in adulthood were investigated in 73 outpatients with ADHD–combined type. Linear regressions were performed to assess associations between adverse experiences and ADHD symptoms in childhood, and negative outcome concerning posttraumatic stress and attachment in adulthood.
Results: PTSD comorbidity was high (26% lifetime PTSD prevalence, 8.2% current disorder). Regression analyses revealed that ADHD symptoms and adverse experiences in childhood might have independent impact on current posttraumatic stress, and in part, on attachment problems.
Conclusions: The present findings may encourage the perspective on the relations between adverse experiences and ADHD symptoms in childhood on the one hand, and posttraumatic and attachment stress in later life of adults with ADHD. Since posttraumatic stress (disorder) is a common condition in clinical samples with ADHD, we recommend being aware of a possible comorbidity of the two disorders in clinical settings.

Keywords: ADHD in adults; Adverse parenting; Adverse Experiences; Wender utah rating scale; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Attachment

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