Skip to main content

Trauma in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Childhood Trauma in Mental Disorders

Abstract

Current evidence indicates that having a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD), such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual developmental disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, increases the odds that a child will be exposed to maltreatment and other adverse events. Early trauma such as physical neglect or exposure to violence during early developmental periods may lead to the development of NDD symptoms. Recent longitudinal twin studies suggest NDD and child maltreatment run together in families as a set of genetic traits, hence the importance of routine screening of co-occurring trauma and NDD. The diagnostic complexities of co-occurring trauma-related symptoms and NDD are explored. This is a new and as-yet understudied area with a history of methodological inadequacies, including errors in classification and overreliance on convenience samples without comparison groups of typically developing children. Assessment is complicated by diagnostic overshadowing bias and gaps in the availability of measures to assess traumatic experience in children with developmental and language delays. There is a particular need for self-report measures that are engaging and comprehensible for children with varying language and cognitive capacities. Web-based electronic assessment tools and their application to this population of children are discussed. Current evidence-based trauma treatment models are briefly reviewed with an emphasis on the adaptation of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy for use with children who have autism and other NDDs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Hoover DW. The effects of psychological trauma on children with autism spectrum disorders: a research review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord. 2015;2(3):287–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-015-0052-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sullivan PM, Knutson JF. Maltreatment and disabilities: a population-based epidemiological study. Child Abuse Negl. 2000;24(10):1257–73.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lewis T, Schwebel DC, Elliott MN, Visser SN, Toomey SL, McLaughlin KA, et al. The association between youth violence exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in a sample of fifth-graders. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2015;85(5):504–13.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Richards L. It is time for a more integrated bio-psycho-social approach to ADHD. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012;18:483–503.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kerns C, Newschaffer C, Berkowitz S. Traumatic childhood events and autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015;45(11):3475–86.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stern A, Agnew-Blais J, Danese A, Fisher HL, Jaffee SR, Matthews T, et al. Associations between abuse/neglect and ADHD from childhood to young adulthood: a prospective nationally-representative twin study. Child Abuse Negl. 2018;81:274–85.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Dinkler L, Lundstrom S, Gajwani R, Lichtenstein P, Gillberg C, Minnis H. Maltreatment-associated neurodevelopmental disorders: a co-twin control analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;58(6):691–701.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ohlsson Gotby V, Lichtenstein P, Långström N, Pettersson E. Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and risk of coercive sexual victimization in childhood and adolescence - a population-based prospective twin study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2018;59(9):957–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jeste SS. Neurodevelopmental behavioral and cognitive disorders. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2015;21(3):690–714.

    Google Scholar 

  10. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: Author; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Davis AS, Hoover KL, Mion AM. In: Butcher JN, Kendall PC, editors. Understanding and treating children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2018. p. 279–315.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Copeland WE, Keeler G, Angold A, Costello EJ. Traumatic events and posttraumatic stress in childhood. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007;64(5):577–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kessler RC, Avenevoli S, McLaughlin KA, Green JG, Lakoma MD, Petukhova M, et al. Lifetime co-morbidity of DSM-IV disorders in the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). Psychol Med. 2012;42(9):1997–2010.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. McLaughlin KA, Koenen KC, Hill ED, Petukhova M, Sampson NA, Zaslavsky AM, et al. Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in a national sample of adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52(8):815–30.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, Williamson DF, Spitz AM, Edwards V, et al. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Am J Prev Med. 1998;14(4):245–58.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Layne CM, Greeson JKP, Ostrowski SA, Kim S, Reading S, Vivrette RL, et al. Cumulative trauma exposure and high risk behavior in adolescence: findings from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set. Psychol Trauma. 2014;6:S40–9.

    Google Scholar 

  17. American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma in Children and Adolescents. Children and Trauma: Update for Professionals. 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mehtar M, Mukaddes NM. Posttraumatic stress disorder in individuals with diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2011;5(1):539–46.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Valenti M, Di Giovanni C, Mariano M, Pino MC, Sconci V, Mazza M. Autism after an earthquake: the experience of L’Aquila (Central Italy) as a basis for an operative guideline. Epidemiol Prev. 2016;40(2 Suppl 1):49–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Jones L, Bellis MA, Wood S, Hughes K, McCoy E, Eckley L, et al. Prevalence and risk of violence against children with disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Lancet. 2012;380(9845):899–907.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Maclean MJ, Sims S, Bower C, Leonard H, Stanley FJ, O’Donnell M. Maltreatment risk among children with disabilities. Pediatrics. 2017;139(4):e20161817. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1817.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Leeb RT, Bitsko RH, Merrick MT, Armour BS. Does childhood disability increase risk for child abuse and neglect? J Mental Health Res Intellect Disabil. 2012;5(1):4–31.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sullivan PM. Violence exposure among children with disabilities. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2009;12(2):196–216.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. McDonnell CG, Boan AD, Bradley CC, Seay KD, Charles JM, Carpenter LA. Child maltreatment in autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: results from a population-based sample. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019;60(5):576–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Green J, Leadbitter K, Kay C, Sharma K. Autism spectrum disorder in children adopted after early care breakdown. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(4):1392–402.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Kerns CM, Kendall PC, Zickgraf H, Franklin ME, Miller J, Herrington J. Not to be overshadowed or overlooked: functional impairments associated with comorbid anxiety disorders in youth with ASD. Behav Ther. 2015;46(1):29–39.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Levitan GW, Reiss S. Generality of diagnostic overshadowing across disciplines. Appl Res Ment Retard. 1983;4(1):59–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Meera SS, Kaipa R, Thomas J, Shivashankar N. Brief report: An unusual manifestation of diagnostic overshadowing of pervasive developmental disorder—not otherwise specified: a five year longitudinal case study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013;43(6):1491–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mahan S, Matson JL. Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders compared to typically developing controls on the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2). Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2011;5(1):119–25.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Adams RE, Fredstrom BK, Duncan AW, Holleb LJ, Bishop SL. Using self- and parent-reports to test the association between peer victimization and internalizing symptoms in verbally fluent adolescents with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(4):861–72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Surveill Summ. 2014;63(2):1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  32. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Arlington, VA: Author; 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Baio J, Wiggins L, Christensen DL, Maenner MJ, Daniels J, Warren Z, et al. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2014. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2018;67:1–23.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Schendel DE, Thorsteinsson E. Cumulative incidence of autism into adulthood for birth cohorts in Denmark, 1980-2012. JAMA. 2018;320(17):1811–3.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Hall-Lande J, Hewitt A, Mishra S, Piescher K, LaLiberte T. Involvement of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the child protection system. Focus Autism Other Dev Disabl. 2015;30(4):237–48.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hoover DW, Kaufman J. Adverse childhood experiences in children with autism spectrum disorder. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2018;31(2):128–32.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Brenner J, Pan Z, Mazefsky C, Smith K, Gabriels R. Behavioral symptoms of reported abuse in children and adolescents with autism Spectrum disorder in inpatient settings. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;48(11):3727–35.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Mandell DS, Walrath CM, Manteuffel B, Sgro G, Pinto-Martin J. The prevalence and correlates of abuse among children with autism served in comprehensive community-based mental health settings. Child Abuse Negl. 2005;29(12):1359–72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Cidav Z, Xie M, Mandell DS. Foster care involvement among Medicaid-enrolled children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2018;48(1):176–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Konst MJ, Matson JL. Comorbid psychopathology symptom rates in infants and toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2014;8(2):147–55.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Mazefsky CA, Borue X, Day TN, Minshew NJ. Emotion regulation patterns in adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: comparison to typically developing adolescents and association with psychiatric symptoms. Autism Res. 2014;7(3):344–54.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Rutter M, Andersen-Wood L, Beckett C, Bredenkamp D, Castle J, Groothues C, et al. Quasi-autistic patterns following severe early global privation. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999;40(4):537–49.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Nowell KP, Brewton CM, Goin-Kochel R. A multi-rater study on being teased among children/adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their typically developing siblings: associations with ASD symptoms. Focus Autism Other Dev Disabl. 2014;29(4):195–205.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Sreckovic MA, Hume K, Able H. Examining the efficacy of peer network interventions on the social interactions of high school students with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(8):2556–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Zeedyk SM, Rodriguez G, Tipton LA, Baker BL, Blacher J. Bullying of youth with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or typical development: victim and parent perspectives. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2014;8(9):1173–83.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Maiano C, Normand CL, Salvas MC, Moullec G, Aime A. Prevalence of school bullying among youth with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Autism Res. 2016;9(6):601–15.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Adams R, Taylor J, Duncan A, Bishop S. Peer Victimization and educational outcomes in mainstreamed adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(11):3557–66.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Mayes SD, Gorman AA, Hillwig-Garcia J, Syed E. Suicide ideation and attempts in children with Autism. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2013;7(1):109–19.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Berg KL, Shiu CS, Acharya K, Stolbach BC, Msall ME. Disparities in adversity among children with autism spectrum disorder: a population-based study. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2016;58(11):1124–31.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Rigles B. The relationship between adverse childhood events, resiliency and health among children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(1):187–202.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Kerns CM, Newschaffer CJ, Berkowitz S, Lee BK. Brief report: examining the association of autism and adverse childhood experiences in the national survey of children’s health: the important role of income and co-occurring mental health conditions. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(7):2275–81.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Berg KL, Acharya K, Shiu CS, Msall ME. Delayed diagnosis and treatment among children with autism who experience adversity. J Autism Dev Disord. 2018;48(1):45–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Bhaumik S, Kiani R, Michael DM, Gangavati S, Khan S, Torales J, et al. World Psychiatric Association (WPA) report on mental health issues in people with intellectual disability: Paper 1: intellectual disability and mental health: an overview. Int J Cult Ment Health. 2016;9(4):417–29.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Dion J, Paquette G, Tremblay KN, Collin-Vezina D, Chabot M. Child maltreatment among children with intellectual disability in the Canadian Incidence Study. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2018;123(2):176–88.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Euser S, Alink LR, Tharner A, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. The prevalence of child sexual abuse in out-of-home care: increased risk for children with a mild intellectual disability. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2016;29(1):83–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Catani C, Sossalla IM. Child abuse predicts adult PTSD symptoms among individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. Front Psychol. 2015;6:1600.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Santoro A, Shear S, Haber A. Childhood adversity, health and quality of life in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2018;62(10):854–63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Hatton C, Emerson E. The relationship between life events and psychopathology amongst children with intellectual disabilities. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2004;17(2):109–17.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Brown RT, Freeman WS, Perrin JM, Stein MT, Amler RW, Feldman HM, et al. Prevalence and assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in primary care settings. Pediatrics. 2001;107(3):E43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Erskine HE, Norman RE, Ferrari AJ, Chan GCK, Copeland WE, Whiteford HA, et al. Long-term outcomes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;55(10):841–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Linares LO, Li M, Shrout PE, Ramirez-Gaite M, Hope S, Albert A, et al. The course of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms after foster placement. Pediatrics. 2010;125(3):e489–98.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Fuller-Thomson E, Lewis DA. The relationship between early adversities and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Child Abuse Negl. 2015;47:94–101.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Ouyang L, Fang X, Mercy J, Perou R, Grosse SD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and child maltreatment: a population-based study. J Pediatr. 2008;153(6):851–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Cromer KD, Villodas MT. Post-traumatic stress as a pathway to psychopathology among adolescents at high-risk for victimization. Child Abuse Negl. 2017;67:182–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. McQuade J, Breslend N, Groff D. Experiences of physical and relational victimization in children with ADHD: the role of social problems and aggression. Aggress Behav. 2018;44(4):416–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Verlinden M, Jansen PW, Veenstra R, Jaddoe VW, Hofman A, Verhulst FC, et al. Preschool attention-deficit/hyperactivity and oppositional defiant problems as antecedents of school bullying. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015;54(7):571–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Wiener J, Mak M. Peer victimization in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychol Sch. 2009;46(2):116–31.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Blake JJ, Kim ES, Lund EM, Zhou Q, Kwok O, Benz MR. Predictors of bully victimization in students with disabilities: a longitudinal examination using a national data set. J Disabil Policy Stud. 2016;26(4):199–208.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Capusan AJ, Kuja-Halkola R, Bendtsen P, Viding E, McCrory E, Marteinsdottir I, et al. Childhood maltreatment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults: a large twin study. Psychol Med. 2016;46(12):2637–46.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Mazefsky CA, Kao J, Oswald DP. Preliminary evidence suggesting caution in the use of psychiatric self-report measures with adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2011;5(1):164–74.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Eklund K, Rossen E, Koriakin T, Chafouleas SM, Resnick C. A systematic review of trauma screening measures for children and adolescents. Sch Psychol Q. 2018;33(1):30–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Briere J. Trauma symptom checklist for children. Odessa: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Steinberg AM, Brymer MJ, Kim S, Briggs EC, Ippen CG, Ostrowski SA, et al. Psychometric properties of the UCLA PTSD reaction index: Part I. J Trauma Stress. 2013;26(1):1–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Geller PA, Neugebauer R, Possemato AK, Walter P, Dummit ES, Silva RR. Psychometric properties of Darryl, a cartoon based measure to assess community violence-related PTSD in children. Psychiatric Q. 2007;78(2):157–68.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Praver F, DiGiuseppe R, Pelcovitz D, Mandel FS, Gaines R. A preliminary study of a cartoon measure for children’s reactions to chronic trauma. Child Maltreat. 2000;5(3):273–85.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Schriber RA, Robins RW, Solomon M. Personality and self-insight in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2014;106(1):112–30.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  77. Cohen JA, Bukstein O, Walter H, Benson RS, Chrisman A, Farchione TR, et al. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescent with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010;49(4):414–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Brooks BA, Haynes K, Smith J, McFadden T, Robins DL. Implementation of web-based autism screening in an urban clinic. Clin Pediatr. 2016;55(10):927–34.

    Google Scholar 

  79. Kobak KA, Stone WL, Wallace E, Warren Z, Swanson A, Robson K. A Web-based tutorial for parents of young children with autism: results from a pilot study. Telemed J E-Health. 2011;17(10):804–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  80. Hoover DW, Romero EMG. The Interactive Trauma Scale: a web-based measure of psychological trauma in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019;49:1686. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-03864-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Attwood T, Scarpa A. In: Scarpa A, Williams White S, Attwood T, editors. Modifications of cognitive-behavioral therapy for children and adolescents with high-functioning ASD and their common difficulties. New York, NY: Guilford Press; 2013. p. 27–44.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Moree BN, Davis TEI II. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders: modification trends. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2010;4(3):346–54.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Gagnon E, Myles BS. The power card strategy: an evidence-based practice. Shawnee, KS: AAPC Publishing; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Kagan R, Henry J, Richardson M, Trinkle J, LaFrenier A. Evaluation of Real Life Heroes treatment for children with complex PTSD. Psychol Trauma. 2014;6(5):588–96.

    Google Scholar 

  85. Grosso CA. Children with developmental disabilities. In: Cohen JA, Mannarino AP, Deblinger E, editors. Trauma-focused CBT for children and adolescents: treatment applications. New York, NY: Guilford Press; 2012. p. 149–74.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel W. Hoover .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hoover, D.W. (2020). Trauma in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In: Spalletta, G., Janiri, D., Piras, F., Sani, G. (eds) Childhood Trauma in Mental Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49414-8_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49414-8_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-49413-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-49414-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics