Childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior among adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated both with suicidal behavior and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet not much is known about the relationship of CM and suicidal behavior in adults diagnosed with ADHD. This study aims to further investigate this potential risk. Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V1.1), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), A self-rating Questionnaire for Suicide Ideation (SIQ) and Suicidal Behavior Scale (SBS) were employed to 104 cases with adult ADHD, whose comorbid psychiatric disorders were examined according to the DSM-5 criteria. It was found that, while age and education level are significantly lower; the fraction of those who are single, as well as the DES, BDI, BAI, SIQ and SBS scores are significantly higher in the ADHD cases with CM history than those with no history of CM. In addition, SIQ and emotional abuse scores were found as significant predictors of SBS scores in adults with ADHD. These results suggest that investigating CM, as well as suicidal behaviors in adults diagnosed with ADHD can be useful in creating a treatment plan to prevent suicide attempts and suicide.