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Purpose Of the Review: The purpose of the current paper was to review and summarize the literature on ADHD and maltreatment over the past 10 years.Recent Findings: The majority of research on ADHD and exposure to maltreatment focuses on the high rates of comorbidity, including international studies from Asia, South America, North America, and Europe. Longitudinal studies showed that early exposure to maltreatment is a risk factor for ADHD symptoms later in development; however, this finding was not consistent. There were some preliminary studies on the neurological and genetic mechanisms underlying the link between ADHD and exposure to maltreatment. Finally, ADHD and exposure to maltreatment were found to have an additive effect on clinically salient outcomes (e.g., aggression, suicide attempts). Results from the review have direct clinical and future implications, including the need to understand the effect of comorbid ADHD and exposure to maltreatment in treatment studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The devastating effects of experiencing violence in childhood are seen well into adulthood. This has been particularly difficult to assess among South Asians living in the U.S., due to a lack of disaggregated data on this ethnic group. In a web-based survey administered to a convenience sample of South Asian women living in the U.S. (n = 535), information was gathered on experience/exposure to childhood violence; adult intimate partner violence; and adverse health outcomes, including ever suicide ideation/attempt, experiences of quality of life and body esteem in adulthood. Further, an individual’s acculturation levels were measured specifically looking at cultural identity which was guided by Berry’s biculturalism model. This study found that acculturation status is a key factor with respect to childhood verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as body esteem and an individual’s well-being. These results suggest that acculturation plays a key role for childhood violence, as well as key adult health indicators. The findings in this study, suggest that more research is warranted to better understand the complex relationships between acculturation status and health. While studies of South Asian immigrants have increased substantially, the study on how acculturation influences family violence and health outcomes has lagged behind. The findings in this study will provide guidance for future work in understanding how acculturation can play a key role in addressing the health and well-being of South Asian women in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal study examined racial differences in depressive symptoms at three time points among Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) and white mothers at-risk for child maltreatment ( n = 616). The proportion of mothers with depressive symptoms ranged from 28 to 35% at all time points. Adjusted analyses revealed that Asian and NHOPI mothers were significantly more likely than white mothers to have depressive symptoms but this disparity was present only among families at mild/moderate risk for child maltreatment. Future research should identify ways to reduce this disparity and involve the Asian and NHOPI communities in prevention and treatment program design and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]