The mediated model of PTSD between ADHD symptoms and alcohol abuse in a population of college students in Taiwan

Purpose: Impulsivity, inattention, childhood trauma, PTSD, and depressive symptoms were the high-risk factors of alcohol abuse in ADHD symptoms. There is a lack of a comprehensive framework of trauma and PTSD in ADHD symptoms with alcohol abuse to explain why ADHD college students become problematic alcohol drinking.

Method: 521 college students were recruited from online platforms (e.g., Facebook, LINE, or Google) after informed consent (females, 67.9%, n = 354; averaged age = 20.34, S.D. = 1.98). All of them completed the questionnaires, which included symptoms of ADHD, inattention and impulsivity, depressive symptoms, childhood trauma, PTSD symptoms, and problematic alcohol drinking. One-way ANOVA and path analysis were applied to examine the significance of eight paths.

Results: Our results supported the mediating effects of childhood trauma and PTSD symptoms in ADHD symptoms with problematic alcohol drinking. Discussion: The effect of complex PTSD between impulsivity and problematic alcohol drinking is still unclear. In addition to impulsivity and inattention to ADHD symptoms with problematic alcohol drinking, the impact of hyperactivity also needs to be considered.

Conclusions: Effective treatment for ADHD symptoms with alcohol abuse could focus on self-control training and emotional regulation in the future.