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Characterisation of depressive symptoms in young children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Version 3 2024-06-18, 12:58
Version 2 2024-06-04, 15:28
Version 1 2019-02-18, 13:38
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-18, 12:58 authored by CI Joseph, Subhadra EvansSubhadra Evans, George Youssef, Tim SilkTim Silk, V Anderson, D Efron, Emma Sciberras
Depressive symptoms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are prevalent and commonly co-occur in childhood. To assist with early identification of depression in children with ADHD, we aimed to: (1) use factor analysis to determine whether the construct of depression is measured consistently in those with and without ADHD; and (2) determine whether overall depressive symptoms and specific depressive symptoms were elevated in children with ADHD relative to controls. Participants comprised a community-based sample of 179 children with ADHD (51% Combined presentation, 35% Inattentive presentation) and 212 non-ADHD controls aged 6-8 years. Participants were screened for ADHD and underwent a structured diagnostic interview which confirmed ADHD status and assessed depressive symptoms. The factor structure of depressive symptoms was similar, enabling comparisons between the two groups to be made. Eighteen children with ADHD (10%) and three control participants (1%) experienced either MDD or subthreshold MDD. Children with ADHD experienced more depressive symptoms than controls (Cohen's d =1.19, p < 0.001), with the following symptoms elevated in children with ADHD relative to controls: sadness (32% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), irritability (52% vs. 19%, p < 0.001), insomnia (56% vs. 22%, p < 0.001), psychomotor agitation (53% vs. 9%, p < 0.001), feeling bad about oneself (50% vs. 24%, p < 0.001), difficulty concentrating (75% vs. 14%, p < 0.001) and making decisions (56% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). This study provides support for the occurrence of depressive symptoms in children with ADHD as young as six and highlights the importance of early assessment for depressive symptoms in children with ADHD.

History

Journal

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Volume

28

Pagination

1183-1192

Location

Germany

ISSN

1018-8827

eISSN

1435-165X

Language

English

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Issue

9

Publisher

SPRINGER