Objective: There is limited evidence suggesting a link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study examined the association between PTSD and ADHD using retrospective and current clinical evaluations.
Method: Twenty-five male veterans with PTSD and 22 male veterans with panic disorder were evaluated for ADHD. The data was analyzed using chi-square and student’s t-tests.
Results: Thirty-six percent of participants with PTSD and 9% of participants with panic disorder met criteria for childhood ADHD. Twenty-eight percent of participants with PTSD and 5% of participants with panic disorder met criteria for current ADHD.
Conclusions: There appears to be a significant association of PTSD with ADHD. ADHD or common predisposing factors may increase the vulnerability for developing PTSD.
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