Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as “physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse.” It is a serious public health problem affecting millions of people each year in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men have experienced some form of sexual or physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Many negative health outcomes are associated with IPV, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, reproductive health problems, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, and more. IPV results in approximately 2 million injuries requiring medical attention and 1500 deaths annually.
ADHD
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). It is characterized by three main symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention further describes attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as an inability to control impulsive behaviors, difficulty focusing and/ or paying attention, and/ or being overly active. ADHD is most effectively treated with a combination of integrated pharmacological and psychotherapeutic intervention. If left untreated, the symptoms associated with ADHD can pervasively interfere with one’s ability to function optimally and can adversely affect every facet of one’s life.
Empirical Data
While research has documented a connection between childhood ADHD and later violence, these findings have primarily focused on violence outside intimate relationships, and only a small number of studies have examined the association of ADHD symptoms with the risk for IPV. In a court-mandated domestic violence treatment program, 94% of the 65 male participants were reported to have ADHD scores above a clinical cutoff. A study exploring the link between ADHD and relationship aggression in 157 college students, found that the presence of ADHD symptoms was a small but significant predictor of physical relationship aggression. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, where researchers from the Netherlands treated 209 offenders of IPV who had ADHD with therapy and medication for one year, found that IPV is reduced when offenders with ADHD are treated with medication and therapy. While these studies do suggest a connection between ADHD and physical IPV, the empirical data is lacking, and additional research is required to draw any meaningful conclusions.
Treatment In Calabasas
Calabasas is a city in California. It is a well-known suburb of Los Angeles, located west of the San Fernando Valley and north of the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past decade, the city of Calabasas has grown in its reputation for luxury as well as for privacy which makes it a hidden gem for residential living for society’s elite, and one of the most desirable destinations in Los Angeles County. It is also home to a plethora of highly qualified mental health clinicians providing an array of therapeutic services and treatment options.
The information above is provided for the use of informational purposes only. The above content is not to be substituted for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, as in no way is it intended as an attempt to practice medicine, give specific medical advice, including, without limitation, advice concerning the topic of mental health. As such, please do not use any material provided above to disregard professional advice or delay seeking treatment.
