Child Abuse may Increase Risk of ADD/ADHD in Children: Study

A recent study shows that child abuse could increase the risk of the development of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adulthood.

In fact, findings reveal that close to 30 percent of adults with ADD or ADHD reported that they were physically abused compared to seven percent of those with ADD or ADHD who were physically abused before 18.

"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," said lead study author Esme Fuller-Thomson, Professor and Sandra Rotman Chair at University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, via a press release. "Even after adjusting for different factors, those who reported being physically abused before age 18 had seven times the odds of ADD/ADHD."

"Even after adjusting for different factors, those who reported being physically abused before age 18 had seven times the odds of ADD/ADHD."

For the study, researchers examined a representative sample of 13,054 adults aged 18 and up in the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. This was a combined total of 1,020 participants who had reported being a victim of child abuse. Sixty-four of the group also had either ADHD or ADD.

"Our data do not allow us to know the direction of the association. It is possible that the behaviors of children with ADD/ADHD increase parental stress and the likelihood of abuse," said co-author Rukshan Mehta, a graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Social Work program, via the release. "Alternatively, some new literature suggests early childhood abuse may result in and/or exacerbate the risk of ADD/ADHD."

"This study underlines the importance of ADD/ADHD as a marker of abuse. With 30 per cent of adults with ADD/ADHD reporting childhood abuse, it is important that health professionals working with children with these disorders screen them for physical abuse," concluded co-author Angela Valeo from Ryerson University.

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More information regarding the study can be found via the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma.