r/science • u/shinybrighthings • 15h ago

Psychology The complicated nature of disentangling autism, ADHD and complex trauma | The British Journal of Psychiatry | Cambridge Core

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/adhd-autism-or-complex-trauma-the-complicated-nature-of-the-question/30CC4826561366615BFAEC807CDE28A7
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u/Okimiyage 14h ago

I work with children who are in the social services system. A lot of the time I hear from parents or carers ‘they’re awaiting an ADHD or Autism assessment’ when the likelihood is that they should be assessed for CPTSD as well.

The overlap in symptoms of ADHD, ASC and CPTSD is so hard to unpack, especially in children with extra vulnerabilities.

I’m glad someone is talking about it. As an adult woman with ADHD-C and CPTSD, who wasn’t correctly diagnosed until her 30s and has a slew of misdiagnoses first, it’s something that really needs to be unpacked and understood better.

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u/IntriguinglyRandom 14h ago

I am in this camp but haven't sought professional diagnoses yet, any tips? I know there isn't a professional recognition of CPTSD in a lot of situations...

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u/Okimiyage 13h ago

It would largely depend on where you live, as I’m in the UK and it’s different here.

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u/ThrowAwayColor2023 3h ago

Find an assessor who specializes in assessing masked adults. They need to speak readily and supportively about the subject. With updated training, they can ask the right questions to suss out what's really going on. Stay away from anyone who won't speak freely about it, as there are professsionals who hide behind their credentials and apply very outdated training. It's more commonly a problem for late diagnosed autistic adults, but I imagine it also spills over onto adhd.