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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

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01-09-2019 | Affective Disorder | Original Article

Relational impairments, sluggish cognitive tempo, and severe inattention are associated with elevated self-rated depressive symptoms in adolescents with ADHD

Authors: Anthony R. Ward, Margaret H. Sibley, Erica D. Musser, Mileini Campez, Michelle G. Bubnik-Harrison, Michael C. Meinzer, Carlos E. Yeguez

Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

This study examines how ADHD-related symptoms and impairments interact to predict depression symptoms in young adolescents with ADHD. A sample of 342 adolescents (71% male, mean age = 13 years old) with DSM-IV-TR diagnosed ADHD completed baseline clinical assessments upon entry to a psychosocial treatment study for ADHD. Ratings of ADHD and sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms, and social and academic impairment were obtained from parents, while ratings of depressive symptoms and conflict with parents were obtained from youth. Among adolescents with ADHD, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with higher SCT symptom severity, lower hyperactive/impulsive (HI) symptom severity, higher social impairments, higher conflict with parents, and lower academic problems. Interaction effects indicated that clinically significant depressive symptoms were most likely to occur when high levels of parent–youth conflict were present along with high inattentive (IN) symptoms, high SCT, and/or low HI. Among children and adolescents with ADHD, depression prevention efforts might target IN/SCT symptom management, as well as improving interpersonal relationships with parents and peers. Future work is needed to verify these findings longitudinally.

Given previous findings that externalizing problems are a primary risk for comorbid internalizing psychopathology in ADHD (e.g., Bagwell et al. 2006; Humphreys et al. 2013), follow-up analyses were completed with ODD symptoms included as a covariate. However, ODD was not a significant predictor and the overall findings were not altered. In addition, results with age, sex, and IQ included as covariates did not alter primary findings and are available upon request.

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Title: Relational impairments, sluggish cognitive tempo, and severe inattention are associated with elevated self-rated depressive symptoms in adolescents with ADHD
Authors: Anthony R. Ward
Margaret H. Sibley
Erica D. Musser
Mileini Campez
Michelle G. Bubnik-Harrison
Michael C. Meinzer
Carlos E. Yeguez
Publication date: 01-09-2019
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Keywords: Affective Disorder
Affective Disorder
Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 1866-6116
Electronic ISSN: 1866-6647
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-019-00293-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Relational impairments, sluggish cognitive tempo, and severe inattention are associated with elevated self-rated depressive symptoms in adolescents with ADHD

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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