The Relationship Between PTSD Symptoms and Attention Problems in Children Exposed to the Bosnian War

Abstract

The authors examined the mediating role of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the relationship between traumatic event exposure and attention problems in a sample of 791 Sarajevan children exposed to the Bosnian war. They hypothesized that because of similarities in the arousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the hyperactive—inattentive symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), PTSD symptoms would mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and attention problems. The findings support the hypothesis. The findings also show evidence of a reporter effect, whereby the relationship between trauma symptoms and attention problems was strongest when both types of symptoms were reported by school officials. Given the potentially spurious relationship between trauma exposure and attention problems, careful consideration must be given to the diagnosis of traumatized youth who present with ADHD symptoms. In accordance with practice guidelines, a multi-informant, multi-measure approach in the assessment of attention problems is strongly recommended.