title: Relations between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Dissociation and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder among Earthquake Survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a burgeoning interest in relations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although few studies were conducted, weak evidence was found supporting the hypothesis that ADHD may be a risk factor for the development of PTSD. In addition, there is a paucity of research addressing the relations between dissociation and ADHD. In this study, our aim was to examine the relations between PTSD and ADHD combined with the mediating effect of dissociative psychopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 317 undergraduate students, a greater proportion of whom experienced the 2011 Van earthquake (66%). The participants were administered the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that ADHD symptoms and dissociation were significantly associated with PTSD. Considering the multivariate relations between ADHD, PTSD and dissociation, significant associations between PTSD and ADHD resulted from symptom overlaps. However, pathological dissociation mediated the relations between PTSD and ADHD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that ADHD comorbidity was not a predominant vulnerability factor for the development of post-traumatic stress response but may be an exacerbating factor after the development of PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Arts, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boysan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pınar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Güzel Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
keywords: ADHD; PTSD; depression; dissociation; natural disaster