The aim of the present study was to evaluate relationship of severity of ADHD symptoms with the presence of psychological trauma while controlling the effect of impulsivity in a sample of university students.

Participants included 321 volunteered university students. Participants were evaluated with the Short Form Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF), the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC).

Age and gender did not differed between those with the history of psychological trauma (n=271, 84.4%) and those without (n=50, 15.6%). BIS-11-SF and subscale scores did not differ between groups, other than motor impulsivity, which was higher among those with the history of psychological trauma. ASRS score, inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores were higher among those with the history of psychological trauma than those without. Severity of ADHD symptoms, particularly inattentiveness score, predicted the presence of psychological trauma, together with the severity of motor and attentional impulsivities in a logistic regression model.

These findings suggest that the severity of ADHD symptoms may be related with the presence of psychological trauma, while severity of motor and attentional impulsivities may have an effect on this relationship among young adults.