Abstract
Objective: To address the nature of associations between ADHD symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychopathology in adult military veterans. Method: Ninety-five combat veterans, with PTSD (n = 63) and without PTSD (n = 32), were recruited for this study. PTSD was assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and ADHD was assessed with Connors’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale−Self-Report: Short Version (CAARS-S:S). Results: PTSD participants endorsed greater hyperactivity or restlessness, inattention or memory problems, and impulsivity or emotional lability scores than participants without PTSD. Among PTSD participants, inattention or memory problems and impulsivity or emotional lability were significant predictors of total PTSD symptoms, but only inattention or memory problems significantly predicted PTSD symptoms when other ADHD symptom clusters were considered simultaneously. Conclusion: Our data suggest that inattention may serve as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress symptoms following combat exposure.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1246-1254 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Attention Disorders |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported in part by the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and the Clinical Sciences Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Merit Review grant # 1I01CX000487-01A1), as well as K12 DA031794.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 SAGE Publications.
Keywords
- PTSD
- adult ADHD
- cognitive functioning
- inattention
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology