Antecedents and complications of trauma in boys with ADHD: findings from a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between trauma and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), evaluating whether ADHD increases the risk for trauma, the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or the risk for trauma-associated psychopathology.


METHODS
Data from a longitudinal sample of 260 children and adolescents with and without ADHD were examined. All were evaluated comprehensively with assessments in multiple domains of functioning including systematic assessments of trauma and PTSD. Comparisons were made between traumatized and nontraumatized youths with and without ADHD.


RESULTS
No meaningful differences were detected in comparisons between ADHD and control children, either in the rate of trauma exposure or in the development of PTSD. Although trauma was associated with the development of major depression, this effect was independent of ADHD status. In contrast, bipolar disorder at baseline assessment was a significant risk factor for subsequent trauma exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
ADHD was not found to be a risk factor for either trauma exposure or PTSD, but childhood mania was. If confirmed, this finding stresses the potential severe clinical sequelae of childhood mania in children.
Wozniak
J
J
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
Crawford
M H
MH
Biederman
J
J
Faraone
S V
SV
Spencer
T J
TJ
Taylor
A
A
Blier
H K
HK
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology