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ADHD - Adult

Understanding how ADHD symptoms, trauma, and emotional regulation are associated with disassociation.

(PS1-B47) Understanding How ADHD Symptoms, Trauma, and Emotional Regulation Are Associated with Disassociation

Friday, November 17, 2023
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM PST
Location: Regency Ballroom, Level 7
Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a clear association with emotion dysregulation (Hirsch et al., 2018; Bunford et al., 2015) and trauma (Stern et al, 2018; Capusan et al., 2016); however, it is unclear how this symptomology and impairment may be uniquely associated with experiences of disassociation. The few studies that have examined this association noted that dissociation and ADHD symptoms show a positive association, but that connection is related to the presence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Endo et al, 2006; Soukup et al, 2010). This study will examine whether ADHD symptoms, emotional regulation, and trauma are associated with dissociation in a community college student sample. A secondary aim is to examine these associations for a sample of Black and/or Latine adolescents with ADHD. The first aim will use data collected from 218 participants enrolled at a mid-sized university. Self-report surveys assessed demographics, PTSD, ACEs, ADHD, emotional regulation, and dissociation.  Most of 218 participants identified as White (69%) and cisgender woman (70%). ACEs ranged from 0-16, with 87.2% of the sample reporting at least one ACE. For the second aim, ongoing data will be collected from participants who identify as Black (50%), Indigenous (12.5%), and Latine (75%; racial/ethnic identifiers not mutually exclusive; mAge = 15.29 years; Boys = 25%, Girls = 50%, Nonbinary = 25%; 50% = straight, 50% = LGBTQ+). Clinical interviews with adolescents and parents will be used for diagnoses of PTSD and ADHD, while ACEs, emotion regulation and disassociation will use self-report survey data. ACEs range from 0 to 6 in this sample (using a different ACEs measure than the college student sample with highest number of ACEs being 10). For the first aim, hierarchical multiple regression was used, including PTSD and ACEs in step 1, ADHD symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in step 2, (R²change = .42, p = .01), and emotion regulation in step 3 (R²change =. 91, p < .01). Findings showed that higher rates of inattentive symptoms (β = .25), hyperactivity symptoms (β = .25), PTSD (β = .19), and a lack of emotional clarity (β = .30) were significantly associated with higher rates of dissociation. Impulsive ADHD symptoms (β = .10) were not associated with dissociation. Better goal-directed emotion regulation skills (β = -.27) were associated with lower rates of dissociation. For aim 2, we expect to find stronger associations between ADHD symptoms, emotion regulation, and dissociation, as Black and/or Latine adolescents experience a high number of traumatic experiences, which are clearly linked to dissociation. Bivariate associations show strong associations between ADHD and ACEs (r = .63), with analyses from aim 1 to be replicated in this sample. Our current findings suggest that it is beneficial to screen for dissociation for those presenting with high rates of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or difficulties with emotional clarity. In addition, when considering treatment plans for ADHD symptomology and people experiencing trauma and disassociation, increasing use of goal-directed emotion regulation skills may be a useful treatment target.