Adult ADHD - Science topic

There is evidence to suggest a potential link between childhood trauma and the development or exacerbation of adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms.

However, it's essential to understand that the relationship between childhood trauma and ADHD is complex and not fully understood.

Here are some key points to consider:

In summary, there is evidence to suggest a potential link between childhood trauma and adult ADHD symptoms, but the relationship is complex and influenced by multiple factors.

Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this association and to inform more effective approaches to assessment and treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma and exhibit ADHD-like symptoms.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of ADHD or the effects of childhood trauma, seeking support from a qualified mental health professional is advisable for proper evaluation and guidance.

Check https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26795754/

The PSP is a 100–point single‐item rating scale, subdivided into 10 equal intervals. The ratings are based mainly on the assessment of patient's functioning in four main areas: 1) socially useful activities; 2) personal and social relationships; 3) self‐care; and 4) disturbing and aggressive behaviours. Operational criteria to rate the levels of disabilities have been defined for the above‐mentioned areas. Excellent inter‐rater reliability was also obtained in less educated workers.

Tamara Stenn

Thank you. It's been interesting. I teach at the local community college for computer studies while working on my own education. I'm not 100% LD, I usually only have one or two per class. I have a strict policy on assignments so what ends up happening is everything comes in at the last minute and it's done halfheartedly. This next semester I'm going to try your suggestion. Teaming them up with someone along with offering them some help outside of class to keep them on track. I'm still working out the details, but between you, Stephen, and Debbie I think I have the beginnings of a plan. Thanks again for your assistance.

If you were considering MANOVA, then you must have not only several IVs but also several DVs, right? Otherwise a 2x2x2 ANOVA would have done the trick.

Your problem is that the Mann--Whitney is only suitable for a single dichotomous IV; in other words, it's equivalent to a t-test. If you have more than 2 levels of the IV, you could use the Kruskal-Wallis, but I think that is limited to a single IV. When you start talking about multiple IVs (as in your study), your options get pretty limited. There is said to be a Scheirer-Ray-Hare extension of the Kruskal-Wallis that can handle two IVs. To be honest I know nothing about the properties of this test. And as far as I know (ready to be corrected here!) there is no nonparametric equivalent of a MANOVA. The best I can do there is to steer you toward a doctoral dissertation I found (but have not read!):

If it was up to me, I would probably go ahead and run a straight MANOVA. Whether a likert-type scale is best conceived of as ordinal or interval may at least be debated, and besides, the general linear model is pretty robust in the face of minor deviations from its underlying assumptions. Sure, I'd acknowledge this as a limitation of my data analytic plan, but it shouldn't be a fatal one. (If you're worried about this, then use Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney for your follow-up analyses if you obtain a significant main effect.)

I came across these resources:

I believe they can. In my recent research, I asked the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale questions but also about previous diagnosis and familial diagnosis. The applicability of the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale answers was higher than the other approaches. My research is on my RG page.

I think you would find some good information in chapter 4 & 5 of my dissertation. It is fully available (free) here on Researchgate.

How did this turn out?

Are you researching ADHD? I am interested in meeting other researchers who have done behavioral research on adults with ADHD, specifically excluding pharma solutions.

Jill

As I mentioned previously, I would endorse that point. The CAARS is well-validated, has been widely used in research on Adult ADHD (including my own) and has scales that are normed for age and gender. I don't know of any other scale that meets those criteria and includes all of the following scales. The publisher (MHS) may be able to provide a discount for use in research. There is a Short Form that is less expensive that may meet your needs. In the past, however, that Short Form did not include the DSM scales, which are important for diagnostic purposes.

CLINICAL SCALES T-score

A. Inattention/Memory Problems

B. Hyperactivity/Restlessness

C. Impulsivity/Emotional Lability

D. Problems with Self-Concept

E. DSM-IV Inattentive Symptoms

F. DSM-IV Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms

G. DSM-IV ADHD Symptoms Total

H. ADHD Index

You will find a lot of information regarding ADHD & EF in adults in the books & articles of Russel Barkley:

You should also have a look at the work of Anthony L Rostain : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anthony_Rostain.

Best wishes!

Morgane

In addition to these excellent suggestions you might also want to consider the Diagnostic interview for adhd in adults (DIVA) by Sandra Kooij and Monique Francken (see links). This structured interview is frequently used in the Netherland and is also available as a downloadable app (for apple and android).

Thanks a lot, Matej,

Much appreciated!

Cheerfs

Dominic

Dr. Castle,

It is interesting that you ask this question on menopause and extreme  behavioral issues. I can tell you that being ADHD my entire life. I know that I have been now that I know what the hallmarks are of this condition are. I find that females do not have to be menopausal to pop off at the slightest irritant. You are either in a cloud of conditioned protection that has been self imposed to protect yourself or you just go off on anyone who makes you upset even to the slightest extent. I myself was in the cloud. There are literally times in my life that I do not remember. I don't remember how I paid rent, if I had a job, who I knew, and what actually happened. I know that while I was in elementary school I would do so poorly in class. But when it came to the standardized tests given I was at the top of list in terms of scores. I don't even remember taking the test. The only reason I know I took the test was because the teacher took me out into the hall and told me that she was going to fail me and hold me back, but because I had the highest score on the standardized test in the class she was going to let me move forward.

She told me that I needed to find out what the disconnect was that I couldn't perform in class. That was when I was in 6th grade. I was approximately 11 years old. That was when they considered those who could not sit still and those that talked too much trouble makers and they made examples of you. So I lived in a cloud. It wasn't until I was 23 that I started to see things a little differently in life and started wondering what I needed to do to make a life. Now consider this was when I could of had a free education but got so bored in class that I couldn't stand to be in class for longer than 10 minutes. And reading a text book was so torturous that I just stopped. There was no discipline because discipline never entered my mind. It was too busy running to the next thought. A series of one thought after another none actually making any sense or having any meaningful direction. So getting out of the cloud was difficult. I went to a vocational school. Did not like the jobs I attained from having gone to this vocational school. I was so completely bored. I joined the military and was constantly challenged. Never a moment to sit and think about the next thing. It was actually very good for me. It helped me see that discipline, even forced discipline was a good thing. If it had an end result that was a benefit to me.

I learned how to create discipline for myself use it to my benefit. I realized that if I could make it through being in the Army I could do anything. I'm still working on a degree but I am doing it. And I haven't stopped. I'm am still very much a squirrel but at least I recognize the squirrel when it appears. I know I am not the most professional sounding person in my writing. However, I do know the hallmarks of being ADHD now. And the more I learn about how it affects those who are afflicted with it I can speak to it. The most important thing for the ADDer is to slow the bus down enough to let the passengers off.

Whether you take medication, meditate, or use biofeedback to stop the bus makes no difference. It matters that it's being done in a way that meets the needs of the individual. And as far as anxiety goes. How can you not be anxious when you are an ADDer? The two go hand in hand. When you have no way to understand or control your own behavior does that not produce anxiety? It did for me. Learning to overcome fear of just the day to day life is so hard when you have no idea what is going on. ADD and ADHD is manageable. It is definitely something that will never go away. It is neurological and hereditary as well. From everything that I have learned about ADDer's they are usually very successful when they can control their condition and are allowed to be themselves. Especially when they are accepted by their peers. This is why an enormous amount of ADDer's are Actors. They get to do something different all the time and are usually challenged in a positive way. Some are temperamental but all are exceptional in their craft. Those who are not are generally not ADD. Consider the perception of the educators of William Bell and Albert Einstein saying they would amount to little or nothing. Look at Johnny Depp, Richard Branson, and a myriad of performers and entrepreneurs that were lost until they found their wings because they did what they wanted.  There are more ADDers that fall thorugh the cracks because they never reach that understanding. Or are forced to comply with society in behavioral and thought processes. Some can maintain a perception of being normal but are so anxious they tend to overdose on anxiety. They end up with so many physical and anxiety conditions that its almost impossible to come out of the cloud, or stop being angry. My research is based on my own life and that of my brothers, sisters, and children it has spanned over 50 years and hopefully will be more professional in its presentation as I get a better education.

according to my experience these patients had two phase:

1- their condition get aggravated in one year after start of menopausal sign and symptom 

2- after one year their condition gradually will be better.

Thank you. As far as I know, I am the only doctor who prescribes Concerta for social phobia patients in Turkey and in the world. I took author’s right for “social phobia classification and dual approach model in treatment” in 2013. ( İstanbul, Bakırköy 29. notary ). 

Morever, I am a psychiatrist who works specifically on social phobia, has books on social phobia and known in internet. I have a clinic, in which specifically social phobia patients are treated. Patients all around Turkey come to me. I have been following social phobia patients intensely for about ten years. In my clinic, each month I assess on average 30 patients who haven’t had any psychiatric treatment before, who comes for treatment for the first time. These are patients who come primarily for social phobia treatment.

I'd like to learn the opinions of my colleagues with similar observations.

Best regards.

"For example, the symptom of impulsivity can be independently observed as an increase in commission errors."

Is there validation that the increase in commission errors in a neuropsych test is linked to the observed impulsive behaviors of the ADHD patient? If the behavior is observed to occur, what added value do you get from the test? If the patient is able to perform the test, does that negate the observation of behavior? And if someone is willing to be deceptive in reporting behavior, would they also be able to deceive on the test?