It is well studied that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are physically abused by their parent. However, there are few studies on different forms of abuse.

The parents of a clinical sample of 108 children and adolescents with ADHD and 102 mothers of a control group were included in this study. The ADHD diagnosis was made according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, using K-SAD. The Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales (CTSPC) was used to assess the frequency of the three different forms of child abuse by their parents including “Nonviolence discipline”, “parental psychological aggression” and “parental physical aggression”.

The mean scores of “nonviolent discipline”, “parental psychological aggression” and “parental physical aggression” for the parents of children with ADHD were more than those of the control group. “Parental psychological aggression” and “Parental physical aggression” were significantly correlated with each other.

The physical abuse of children with ADHD by their parents is very common. However, Child abuse in children with ADHD occurs in a cluster of different types of abuse irrespective of parental age or education. So, other types of abuse should be considered in the management of children with ADHD.