Abstract
It remains unclear how molecular mechanisms contribute to high rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) . Considering that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are correlated with the symptoms of ADHD and PTSD, and the individuals with ASD tend to experience stressful events in childhood, we hypothesize that ACEs may develop ADHD and PTSD in the individuals with ASD. In this review article, we discuss the associations between ACEs and ADHD/PTSD symptoms in the individuals with ASD focusing on the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, as the shared causative agent.
