Evidence of the relationship between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and emotional abuse in a sample of preschool children

ABSTRACT This study has aimed to evaluate the relationship between preschool attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and emotional abuse. Fifty-six children with ADHD aged 5 and 6 years and their mothers, and sixty-five children without a diagnosis of ADHD and their mothers have been included in this study. ADHD symptomatology and emotional abuse potential of mothers have been assessed by the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised-Short Form (CPRS-RS) and the Scale for Emotional Abuse Potential of Parents with Children Aged 3 to 6 (SEAPP-C3-6) respectively. Mothers of children with ADHD had significantly higher causal sub-dimension scores of SEAPP-C3-6 than that of the mothers of the controls. The higher emotional abuse potential scores of mothers have been significantly associated with higher Conners scores, male gender, disruptive behavior disorders comorbidity, low income and parental education level and parental psychopathology. This study has revealed that preschool ADHD is an important risk factor for emotional abuse. Clinicians shall be aware of the emotional abuse potential among children with ADHD.