The role of adverse childhood experiences and sleep disturbances in the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults has recently become an important and discussed issue. There are many theories presented in literature concerning the risks of developing this disorder. No less debatable are questions about comorbid conditions. This study was conducted in two directions: we attempted to investigate the relationship between ADHD and adverse childhood experiences as one of the variants of forming the syndrome; additionally, sleep disorders (dyssomnia) were assessed among participants with identified symptoms of ADHD. Among 311 students involved in the research, signs of the syndrome were noted in 12.5% of cases. More than half of the individuals with ADHD had varying degrees of adverse childhood experience. Subjective sleep disturbances (insomnia and borderline states) were found in more than two-thirds of the subjects with ADHD symptoms. These results emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and follow-up of individuals with ADHD symptoms, including assessment of traumatic experiences and sleep quality.