Comorbidity/overlapping between ADHD and PTSD in relation to IQ among children of traumatized/non-traumatized parents.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores the comorbidity between symptoms of ADHD and PTSD in relation to IQ among refugee children of traumatized parents (TP) and non-traumatized parents (NTP).


METHODS
The study compares 80 refugee children, 40 with TP with 40 with NTP. ADHD and PTSD are assessed using DICA. Children's cognitive functions are measured by WISC. Teacher ratings of YCI and SDQ are performed.


RESULTS
Overlapping between ADHD and PTSD symptoms are represented among children with TP. Cognitive functions, related to ADHD and PTSD, reveal associations between low IQ (<84) and having both ADHD and PTSD among children with TP.


CONCLUSIONS
Concerns are raised about how ADHD and PTSD symptoms in a child are to be interpreted. Some overlapping exists between the two syndromes, but further studies should determine whether true comorbidity exists between ADHD and PTSD symptoms to better understand how to correctly diagnose and treat refugee children with TP.
Daud
Atia
A
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Woman and Child Health, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Atia.Daud@ki.se
Rydelius
Per-Anders
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden