Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Childhood ADHD and treatment outcome: the role of maternal functioning

Authors: Pernille Darling Rasmussen, Ole Jakob Storebø, Yael Shmueli-Goetz, Anders Bo Bojesen, Erik Simonsen, Niels Bilenberg

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Relatively little is known about the role of maternal functioning in terms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, attachment style and resilience as predictive factors for treatment outcome when offspring are diagnosed with ADHD.

Objective

To investigate whether maternal functioning is associated with treatment outcome in children with ADHD.

Methods

The study formed part of a larger naturalistic observational study of children with ADHD. A battery of self-report measures was used to assess selected factors in maternal functioning at the point of referral (baseline data); adult ADHD-symptoms, adult attachment style and adult resilience. Associations between these domains and child treatment response were subsequently examined in a 1-year follow up.

Results

Maternal ADHD-symptoms and degree of resilience were significantly correlated to symptom reduction in offspring diagnosed with ADHD. However, the association between maternal attachment style and child treatment response as measured by the ADHD-RS did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to consider potential protective factors along with risk factors in maternal functioning and the impact on child treatment outcome. The study contributes to our knowledge of the potential role of maternal functioning in treatment outcome for children with ADHD.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
3.
go back to reference World Health Organisation. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 1992. World Health Organisation. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 1992.
4.
go back to reference American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.CrossRef American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Hechtman L. Families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a review. Can J Psychiatry. 1996;41(6):350–60.CrossRefPubMed Hechtman L. Families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a review. Can J Psychiatry. 1996;41(6):350–60.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Faraone SV, Biederman J, Chen WJ, Milberger S, Warburton R, Tsuang MT. Genetic heterogeneity in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): gender, psychiatric comorbidity, and maternal ADHD. J Abnorm Psychol. 1995;104(2):334–45.CrossRefPubMed Faraone SV, Biederman J, Chen WJ, Milberger S, Warburton R, Tsuang MT. Genetic heterogeneity in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): gender, psychiatric comorbidity, and maternal ADHD. J Abnorm Psychol. 1995;104(2):334–45.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Elia J, Gai X, Xie HM, Perin JC, Geiger E, Glessner JT, D’arcy M, Frackelton E, Kim C, Lantieri F, Muganga BM. Rare structural variants found in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are preferentially associated with neurodevelopmental genes. Mol Psychiatry. 2010;15:637–46. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2009.57.CrossRefPubMed Elia J, Gai X, Xie HM, Perin JC, Geiger E, Glessner JT, D’arcy M, Frackelton E, Kim C, Lantieri F, Muganga BM. Rare structural variants found in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are preferentially associated with neurodevelopmental genes. Mol Psychiatry. 2010;15:637–46. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​mp.​2009.​57.CrossRefPubMed
20.
go back to reference Minde K, Eakin L, Hechtman L, Ochs E, Bouffard R, Greenfield B, Looper K. The psychosocial functioning of children and spouses of adults with ADHD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2003;44(4):637–46.CrossRefPubMed Minde K, Eakin L, Hechtman L, Ochs E, Bouffard R, Greenfield B, Looper K. The psychosocial functioning of children and spouses of adults with ADHD. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2003;44(4):637–46.CrossRefPubMed
21.
go back to reference Psychogiou L, Daley DM, Thompson MJ, Sonuga-Barke EJS. Do maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms exacerbate or ameliorate the negative effect of child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms on parenting? Dev Psychopathol. 2008;20(1):121–37.CrossRefPubMed Psychogiou L, Daley DM, Thompson MJ, Sonuga-Barke EJS. Do maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms exacerbate or ameliorate the negative effect of child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms on parenting? Dev Psychopathol. 2008;20(1):121–37.CrossRefPubMed
22.
go back to reference Joelsson P, Chudal R, Uotila J, Suominen A, Sucksdorff D, Gyllenberg D, Sourander A. Parental psychopathology and offspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a nationwide sample. J Psychiatr Res. 2017;94:124–30.CrossRefPubMed Joelsson P, Chudal R, Uotila J, Suominen A, Sucksdorff D, Gyllenberg D, Sourander A. Parental psychopathology and offspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a nationwide sample. J Psychiatr Res. 2017;94:124–30.CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Roskam I, Stievenart M, Tessier R, Muntean A, Escobar MJ, Santelices MP, Juffer F, Van Ijzendoorn MH, Pierrehumbert B. Another way of thinking about ADHD: the predictive role of early attachment deprivation in adolescents’ level of symptoms. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(1):133–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0685-z.CrossRefPubMed Roskam I, Stievenart M, Tessier R, Muntean A, Escobar MJ, Santelices MP, Juffer F, Van Ijzendoorn MH, Pierrehumbert B. Another way of thinking about ADHD: the predictive role of early attachment deprivation in adolescents’ level of symptoms. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(1):133–44. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s00127-013-0685-z.CrossRefPubMed
28.
go back to reference Herrman H, Stewart DE, Diaz-granados N, Berger EL, Beth J. What is resilience? Can J Psychiatry. 2011;56(5):258–65.CrossRefPubMed Herrman H, Stewart DE, Diaz-granados N, Berger EL, Beth J. What is resilience? Can J Psychiatry. 2011;56(5):258–65.CrossRefPubMed
30.
go back to reference Wright MO, Masten AS, Narayan A. Resilience processes in development: four waves of research on positive adaptation in the context of adversity. In: Handbook of Resilience in Children. 2013. p. 15–37. Wright MO, Masten AS, Narayan A. Resilience processes in development: four waves of research on positive adaptation in the context of adversity. In: Handbook of Resilience in Children. 2013. p. 15–37.
31.
go back to reference Bodin P, Wiman BLB. Resilience and other stability concepts in ecology: notes on their origin, validity. ESS Bull. 2004;2(2):33–43. Bodin P, Wiman BLB. Resilience and other stability concepts in ecology: notes on their origin, validity. ESS Bull. 2004;2(2):33–43.
32.
go back to reference Davidson JRT, Payne VM, Connor KM, Foa EB, Rothbaum BO, Hertzberg MA, Weisler RH. Trauma, resilience and saliostasis: effects of treatment in post-traumatic stress disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005;20(1):43–8.CrossRefPubMed Davidson JRT, Payne VM, Connor KM, Foa EB, Rothbaum BO, Hertzberg MA, Weisler RH. Trauma, resilience and saliostasis: effects of treatment in post-traumatic stress disorder. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005;20(1):43–8.CrossRefPubMed
35.
go back to reference Friborg O, Hjemdal O. Resilience as a measure of adaptive capacity. J Nor Psychol Assoc. 2004;41:206–8. Friborg O, Hjemdal O. Resilience as a measure of adaptive capacity. J Nor Psychol Assoc. 2004;41:206–8.
37.
go back to reference Hjemdal O, Friborg O, Stiles TC, Rosenvinge JH, Martinussen M. Resilience predicting psychiatric symptoms: a prospective study of protective factors and their role in adjustment to stressful life events. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2006;13(3):194–201. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.488.CrossRef Hjemdal O, Friborg O, Stiles TC, Rosenvinge JH, Martinussen M. Resilience predicting psychiatric symptoms: a prospective study of protective factors and their role in adjustment to stressful life events. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2006;13(3):194–201. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​cpp.​488.CrossRef
43.
go back to reference Sibley C, Fischer R, Liu J. Reliability and validity of the revised experiences in close relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of adult romantic attachment. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2005;31(11):1524–36.CrossRefPubMed Sibley C, Fischer R, Liu J. Reliability and validity of the revised experiences in close relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of adult romantic attachment. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2005;31(11):1524–36.CrossRefPubMed
46.
go back to reference Villabø MA, Oerbeck B, Skirbekk B, Hansen BH, Kristensen H. Convergent and divergent validity of K-SADS-PL anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses in a clinical sample of school-aged children. Nord J Psychiatry. 2016;70(5):358–64.CrossRefPubMed Villabø MA, Oerbeck B, Skirbekk B, Hansen BH, Kristensen H. Convergent and divergent validity of K-SADS-PL anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses in a clinical sample of school-aged children. Nord J Psychiatry. 2016;70(5):358–64.CrossRefPubMed
47.
go back to reference DuPaul GJ, Power TJ, Anastopoulos AD, Reid R. ADHD rating scale-IV. New York: Guilford; 1998. DuPaul GJ, Power TJ, Anastopoulos AD, Reid R. ADHD rating scale-IV. New York: Guilford; 1998.
48.
go back to reference Barkley RA, Robin AL. Defiant teens: a clinician’s manual for assessment and family intervention. New York: Guilford Publications; 2014. Barkley RA, Robin AL. Defiant teens: a clinician’s manual for assessment and family intervention. New York: Guilford Publications; 2014.
56.
go back to reference George C, Kaplan N, Main M. The adult attachment interview (Unpublished protocol). Berkeley: Department of Psychology, University of California; 1985. George C, Kaplan N, Main M. The adult attachment interview (Unpublished protocol). Berkeley: Department of Psychology, University of California; 1985.
58.
go back to reference Rasmussen PD, Bilenberg N, Shmueli-Goetz Y, Simonsen E, Bojesen A, Storebø O. Maternal and child attachment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in middle childhood: associations with treatment outcome. 2018. (Unpublished material—in process). Rasmussen PD, Bilenberg N, Shmueli-Goetz Y, Simonsen E, Bojesen A, Storebø O. Maternal and child attachment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in middle childhood: associations with treatment outcome. 2018. (Unpublished material—in process).
60.
go back to reference van IJzendoorn MH, Goldberg S, Kroonenberg PM, Frenkel OJ. The relative effects of maternal and child problems on the quality of attachment: a meta-analysis of attachment in clinical samples. Child Dev. 1992;63(4):840–58.CrossRefPubMed van IJzendoorn MH, Goldberg S, Kroonenberg PM, Frenkel OJ. The relative effects of maternal and child problems on the quality of attachment: a meta-analysis of attachment in clinical samples. Child Dev. 1992;63(4):840–58.CrossRefPubMed
65.
go back to reference Luthar SS. Developmental psychopathology: perspectives on adjustment, risk, and disorder. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997. Luthar SS. Developmental psychopathology: perspectives on adjustment, risk, and disorder. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997.
73.
go back to reference van de Mortel TF. Faking it: social desirability response bias in self-report research report research. Sci Hum. 2008;25(4):40–8. van de Mortel TF. Faking it: social desirability response bias in self-report research report research. Sci Hum. 2008;25(4):40–8.
76.
go back to reference Barkley R. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a handbook for diagnosis and treatment. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford; 1998. Barkley R. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a handbook for diagnosis and treatment. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford; 1998.
77.
go back to reference Reale L, Bartoli B, Cartabia M, et al. Comorbidity prevalence and treatment outcome in children and adolescents with ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;26(12):1443–57.CrossRefPubMed Reale L, Bartoli B, Cartabia M, et al. Comorbidity prevalence and treatment outcome in children and adolescents with ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017;26(12):1443–57.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Childhood ADHD and treatment outcome: the role of maternal functioning
Authors
Pernille Darling Rasmussen
Ole Jakob Storebø
Yael Shmueli-Goetz
Anders Bo Bojesen
Erik Simonsen
Niels Bilenberg
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-018-0234-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2018 Go to the issue