PTSD sufferer
Platinum Member
Starting a new thread on this topic as the last one was hijacked by insults...
ADD/ ADHD is characterised by behavioral systems of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness across the life cycle. Generally that means having ADD/ ADHD at a young age is carried through to adulthood - although there are studies indicating that it is possible for the symptoms of ADD/ADHD can reduce in severity with age.
Some members were seeking information on the link between PTSD and ADD/ ADHD. There has been very little research identifying a direct link between the two. The research that has sought to investigate this area has been primarily investigated in terms of hyper-arousal.
Hyper-arousal in some studies is differentiated in PTSD as centered around the memory flashbacks of the disorder, where as the hyper-arousal in ADD/ADHD is already there without the memory flashbacks. However, this does not mean that a comorbity definitively does not exist, quite to the contrary. Some studies have indicated that those with ADD/ADHD who are in a state of hyper-arousal can provoke PTSD symptomatic if PTSD is present. So, it would suggest that a hyper-arousal response can cause an elevation of stress response in PTSD patients.
However, this possible co-morbidy also gives us a bit of warning about automatically assuming ADD/ADHD when trauma may have been present. I personally am very careful with any ADD/ADHD connection, because the anxiety response to trauma and PTSD can cause a response that could be misconstrued as ADD/ADHD. Considering the amount of over diagnosis of ADD/ ADHD in the past. I am sure some would agree with me that caution is required.
There are also studies that explore BPD and ADD/ADHD and others talk about a link between Depression and ADD/ADHD. However, again there is limited information/ research on PTSD and ADD/ADHD. Routine inquiries into traumatic experiences (particularly) in children is quite important, because some studies show that children may be misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD when trauma exists/ and is the likely cause of behaviors.
If trauma is present, then personally I would be mindful of a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and any suggestion of a co-morbidity, without first trying to address the anxiety issues we know as core to PTSD. If only for the simple fact that there is great difficulty in distinguishing between hyper-arousal from two different conditions - PTSD or ADD/ADHD and subjective stressor responses. So, I think that the anxiety source needs to be addressed first before getting a Ritalin prescription for being hyperactive and, of course, a clear diagnosis is needed before prescription IMHO.
When children are involved, and trauma has been present, then I am even more careful about of ADD/ADHD being diagnosed without significant observation from a qualified psychiatrist. If one child is diagnosed as ADD/ADHD, then I would also be careful of observing similar behaviors of other children and drawing to the conclusion that they both have ADD/ADHD - children mimic behaviors and one may act out if the other is getting the attention a child with ADD/ADHD would. Some amount of behaviors is learned, other a response to environment and probably less than 10% could be because of ADD/ADHD.
If you look for behaviors to fit a diagnosis, then you are likely to find them (or think you have found). So, as we always say here, defer to an expert for a qualified diagnosis, preferably a psychiatrist. The source of hyper-arousal for PTSD and ADD/ ADHD is a bit different and hyper-arousal may increase trauma anxiety.
Happy for anyone else to share experiences, alternative views, similar views, opinions on research studies or just discuss. This is just opinion and a summary of what I have read and understood of the connection between PTSD and ADD/ADHD. Probably not that helpful because there isn't really that much substance out there on the subject.
So, if this is such a difficult connection and the sources of the hyper-arousal are so difficult to distinguish...then how do you manage having both if you are diagnosed with both? Is there a different set of techniques (non Ritalin) that can be applied to ADD/ADHD responses to stressors? Do those with both differentiate between what is a PTSD response and a ADD/ADHD caused response and if so how?
ADD/ ADHD is characterised by behavioral systems of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness across the life cycle. Generally that means having ADD/ ADHD at a young age is carried through to adulthood - although there are studies indicating that it is possible for the symptoms of ADD/ADHD can reduce in severity with age.
Some members were seeking information on the link between PTSD and ADD/ ADHD. There has been very little research identifying a direct link between the two. The research that has sought to investigate this area has been primarily investigated in terms of hyper-arousal.
Hyper-arousal in some studies is differentiated in PTSD as centered around the memory flashbacks of the disorder, where as the hyper-arousal in ADD/ADHD is already there without the memory flashbacks. However, this does not mean that a comorbity definitively does not exist, quite to the contrary. Some studies have indicated that those with ADD/ADHD who are in a state of hyper-arousal can provoke PTSD symptomatic if PTSD is present. So, it would suggest that a hyper-arousal response can cause an elevation of stress response in PTSD patients.
However, this possible co-morbidy also gives us a bit of warning about automatically assuming ADD/ADHD when trauma may have been present. I personally am very careful with any ADD/ADHD connection, because the anxiety response to trauma and PTSD can cause a response that could be misconstrued as ADD/ADHD. Considering the amount of over diagnosis of ADD/ ADHD in the past. I am sure some would agree with me that caution is required.
There are also studies that explore BPD and ADD/ADHD and others talk about a link between Depression and ADD/ADHD. However, again there is limited information/ research on PTSD and ADD/ADHD. Routine inquiries into traumatic experiences (particularly) in children is quite important, because some studies show that children may be misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD when trauma exists/ and is the likely cause of behaviors.
If trauma is present, then personally I would be mindful of a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and any suggestion of a co-morbidity, without first trying to address the anxiety issues we know as core to PTSD. If only for the simple fact that there is great difficulty in distinguishing between hyper-arousal from two different conditions - PTSD or ADD/ADHD and subjective stressor responses. So, I think that the anxiety source needs to be addressed first before getting a Ritalin prescription for being hyperactive and, of course, a clear diagnosis is needed before prescription IMHO.
When children are involved, and trauma has been present, then I am even more careful about of ADD/ADHD being diagnosed without significant observation from a qualified psychiatrist. If one child is diagnosed as ADD/ADHD, then I would also be careful of observing similar behaviors of other children and drawing to the conclusion that they both have ADD/ADHD - children mimic behaviors and one may act out if the other is getting the attention a child with ADD/ADHD would. Some amount of behaviors is learned, other a response to environment and probably less than 10% could be because of ADD/ADHD.
If you look for behaviors to fit a diagnosis, then you are likely to find them (or think you have found). So, as we always say here, defer to an expert for a qualified diagnosis, preferably a psychiatrist. The source of hyper-arousal for PTSD and ADD/ ADHD is a bit different and hyper-arousal may increase trauma anxiety.
Happy for anyone else to share experiences, alternative views, similar views, opinions on research studies or just discuss. This is just opinion and a summary of what I have read and understood of the connection between PTSD and ADD/ADHD. Probably not that helpful because there isn't really that much substance out there on the subject.
So, if this is such a difficult connection and the sources of the hyper-arousal are so difficult to distinguish...then how do you manage having both if you are diagnosed with both? Is there a different set of techniques (non Ritalin) that can be applied to ADD/ADHD responses to stressors? Do those with both differentiate between what is a PTSD response and a ADD/ADHD caused response and if so how?
