Physical Abuse in Childhood Linked to ADHD in Adults

Jasmine Pettis 3/17/144:00 AM

Roughly 30% of adults with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were physically abused as children, new research shows.

Investigators from the University of Toronto in Canada found that the likelihood of ADD/ADHD was about 7 times higher in those who reported a history of physical abuse before age 18 years.

"Only 7.2% of those without ADD/ADHD reported childhood physical abuse, in sharp contrast to 29.6% of those with ADD/ADHD," the researchers, led by Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD, report.

"This strong association between abuse and ADD/ADHD was not explained by differences in demographic characteristics or other early adversities experienced by those who had been abused," Dr. Fuller-Thomson said in a statement.

The study was published online March 3 in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/821903

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Robbyn Peters BennettMember

I've seen several ADHD assessments in my own community that ask NOTHING about history. How can you even diagnose ADHD without a history? Most of these children that I see who carry this diagnosis have experienced pretty serious early emotional and/or physical abuse. Often, A LOT of yelling, interestingly. I think what we are really seeing here is a hyper-arousal - dissociative response.

3/24/147:25 AM

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