Identifier

etd-04132005-140539

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Chronic exposure to violence is becoming increasingly common for urban children, placing them at an increased risk of developing psychopathology. For children exposed to chronic violence, two common diagnoses are Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, symptom overlap between these disorders has made differential diagnosis difficult. Most studies looking at the comorbidity between ADHD and PTSD have focused only on maltreated children. This study is the first to look at comorbid rates of ADHD and PTSD for children exposed to chronic violence, not limited to maltreatment. Specifically, this study evaluated rates of PTSD symptoms in children with and without ADHD. Contrary to the hypothesis, children diagnosed with ADHD were not significantly more likely to meet criteria for PTSD nor did they exhibit more symptoms of PTSD than children without ADHD.

Date

2005

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Mary Lou Kelley

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1417

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS