ADHD and Childhood Trauma

In this short commentary I discuss ADHD and its complex relationship to childhood trauma and adversity spurred on to do so by comments in the last few months by a Canadian physician, that ADHD arises solely from a normal reaction to stress or childhood adversities. Additional research is cited to show the ludicrousness of these claims. There is a complex interprlay of ADHD and childhood adversity but it cannot be understood without reference to the genetics of ADHD in parents as well as that genetic risk in children and the role that both play in generating environments that are chaotic and offer high risk for adversity, neglect, abuse, or other maltreatment.

[currypablo]

I am in agreement with Dr. Barkley that ADHD is heritable as my father and mother both have it. However, C-PTSD and ADHD symptoms do overlap. Taking ADHD medication alone did not reduce symptoms of my C-PTSD completely. Medication, along with treatment for C-PTSD, did help to alleviate symptoms for both. Even when I started the ADHD medication I still felt emotional dysregulation and had issues with focus. When i began to get help with my C-PTSD symptoms it helped me to become more focused, less hyper vigilant and defensive. Many people who have ADHD most likely have another disorder which may effect their concentration and focus, childhood trauma being one of them. I respect both Dr. Barkley and Mate and hope they keep providing great insight.

[TheAvadonna]

Dr. Mate has finally and utterly discredited himself with his "diagnosis" of Prince Harry, and exposed his true colors as a fame-seeking charlatan. Thank you so much for your clear and objective educational videos. I've been introduced to them only a few days ago and have been absorbing them like a sponge, even though the initial reason for my interest in the subject (trying to figure out whether a family member has ADHD) is now less relevant. Your material is so fascinating and illuminating that I'll just watch all of it for the joy of learning. Science, common sense, compassion, and zero gimmicks. Bravo!

[canada]

can't wait to watch this and your other ADHD and trauma video. I work as a clinical counsellor, sometimes with clients with ADHD..and I am truly appalled by the pseudoscience and harm done by some of Gabor Mate's writings...some of my counselling colleagues have a strong trauma bias and that is the only resource they know on ADHD and they treat patients with ADHD accordingly---which delays care and does harm in my view. I was going to write a paper on this or ask you to address it, I am so delighted to find your channel and that you have done so! Thank you for your superb work. what a relief.

[andiblac]

Thank you so much for these updates and sharing your knowledge with us, Dr. Barkley.

As someone who has gone through PTSD assessment and treatment, while also having ADHD, the assertions and assumptions people make based from Maté's work are incredibly damaging.
My ADHD is here because of genetics in my family. PTSD absolutely made it worse and even unbearable, but it was not from my childhood. It was also focused therapy, supports, medication, and understanding these facts that proved life-saving.

It's also horrifying as a parent. Being a parent with ADHD and having a child with ADHD already feels full of parental failures. These theories truly add to that fear and anxiety.

[matthewsaunders]

Just watched this in response to watching Gabor Mate claim that ADHD was not heritable. Your videos are very informative, please keep it up. I don't have ADHD but my wife and child both do. It is worrying how much bad information is out there being propagated by licensed psychologists and doctors. Kind of scary...

[kathysmith]

I’m 59 yr old post menopausal woman with CPTSD ptsd mthfr pylouria MCAS.Recently diagnosed with ADHD just started medication for ADHD on top of medications for my autoimmune diseases etc hormone replacement therapy and adhd meds have saved my life and marriage. Praise God

[DrunknMonky]

Thank you. I said this when he was on Joe Rogan and made his wild claims. He doesnt do any of us any favours by the claims. He needs to stick to what he knows and stfu about ADHD. The strange thing is, he has an ADHD diagnosis himself, and has mentioned that due to medication he was able to complete his studies, but he doesnt think children should be on them. My daughter and myself both have ADHD, she went from failing school, to top of the class once I got her a diagnosis and she was medicated.

[yarntoast]

Thank you for countering Mate’s quackery. Hopefully Amen is next.

[ADHDad]

That Mate Harry interview was the catalyst for me starting my long form videos. Advocacy is made so much harder when his and others hydroplaning is evacuated into the zeitgeist.

[mltiago]

I had a clear caotic mother and stepfather until i was 14. Looking back both had severe ADHD and i have it too. This idea of retrofitting ADHD symptoms is clear as day to me after this video. After the medication and ending a psychology degree and seeing your videos about modulation and regulation, it is really clear as day that adhd exist.

[emmettkelly]

Thank you for these videos, all your work, and your dedication to supporting this population. While Mate is grossly/ harmfully out of line, I would love to hear your insight around Bruce Perry’s work around the neurosequential model. In that severe early childhood trauma (abuse, neglect, ages 0-5) can physically impact/ alter our brain development. So, my question is;
does this change/ damage in brain development due to trauma lead to true ADHD, or are the symptoms of dysregulation different neurologically to an ADHD brain. Or does this fit into the category that you speak of damage to the brain?


Some personal background for me, I myself have ADHD, I’m also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, with an ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider certificate. Your work has had a profound impact on me and my career. I currently work as a therapist in an alternative school for youth who can not function safely in a traditional school setting. Bruce Perry’s book The Boy Who was Raised As a Dog, has also had a huge impact on me and my understanding of trauma, but it pains me knowing he has been quoted saying “ adhd isn’t a real diagnosis”. Any further insight you can provide on this subject to help me understand this conflict would be much appreciated.

[edwardbrett]

Just the best - thankyou for not putting a foot sideways or backwards!

[Chizuru]

I wonder if oxygen deprivation from an umbilical cord wrapped around the neck during and before birth could also lead to developing ADHD (or other stuff). But on the other hand; this was not the case for my other ADDH brother who has it way worse than me and my other brother, strangely enough. And our uncle, who had it extremely bad, has almost exclusively ADHD kids as well as ADHD himself and is likely also bipolar (which he got from his dad/my grandpa). I wonder if all of this is just genetic or if the birth complications also added their part.

[ello]

Mate Gabor aside, as someone who experienced overt childhood abuse and trauma and has had extreme attachment issues, OCD and anxiety, I have recently learned about ADHD through my psychologist who thinks it applies to me (and looking at the traits and behaviours, I'm inclined to agree). Obviously, that's just one person and I can't comment on the general population or objective fact. But to me, there is a clear link between childhood trauma and ADHD. Many of the symptoms of ADHD and CPTSD are the same, for starters. I don't really like this guy's dismissive attitude towards such an obvious link, neither do I like his idea that an ADHD parent and child will likely have conflict. My experience wasn't conflict, it was abuse. I wasn't ALLOWED to argue or disagree or show any (perceived) disrespect. I don't know if my mum has ADHD, but I do know that she has a cluster b personality, which often cause other people trauma, particularly their own children. So no, my ADHD teen self did not butt heads with my possibly-ADHD mum as an explanation for my difficult childhood. Be careful about the messages you send people who are already prone to invalidating their own suffering

[Doloresiiing]

Hello, thank you very much for your contribution to ADHD science education in recent years, I am an ADHD & Asperger patient, so it will be more difficult to watch the complete long video, can you publish the PPT and other text materials in the video?

[georgiabradley]

Thank you! Yes as someone who grew up with narcissistic abuse/emotional and neglect I questioned in the beginning like a year ago if my mum effect on me as a baby would have made my adhd brain but now a year later with less ignorance I can see that this just isn’t the case. Rather I was born with adhd and grew up with abuse. For a while I thought well my proof/validation off trauma goes away. But I soon realised I wanted it to be from trauma because off the proof however, that is more a mental thing and I don’t need a disorder to prove that trauma experienced. I have experienced it whether adhd was part off it it doesn’t matter. I also realised I do have bpd which was formed due to the trauma experienced, and realised growing up with adhd may make you more susceptible. Perhaps if you grow up with abuse and adhd your at higher risk off then those who grew up with abuse and not adhd. I also don’t need a condition in order to validate my experience but due to the way my brain works my conditions are my cement in the sinking sand off experiences. Basically yes adhd has nothing to do with abuse and even with the children having needs that prove complicated to parents it’s still not ok to say well the child was hard so being justifying abuse. Anyway this is a ramble now. I am from uk myself and I feel Prince Louie from observations may have adhd and Prince Harry possibly but it would never be down to the abuse it would have made it more complicated for him but yes x 😇

[yanivbarda]

Can you recommend a research article, book etc on how to treat children with complex PTSD - abuse, as well as the child having diagnosis of CD/ADHD/ODD/DMDD

[barb]

I am not interested in childhood adhd.I have adult issues now now now and would like to know where to go to find excellent adult treatment AND hopefully to resume the adult treatment I have taken for 30 years.

[raghna]

If it's an autobiography, how is it "second hand information"?

[Touay.]

I believe there is 'trait ADHD' and 'State ADHD' ... you can be born with the dopamine deficiency, or it can result from childhood trauma.