ADHD raises depression and suicide risk in teens
29 October 2010
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be at increased risk of depression and suicide, research reveals (Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010; 67: 1044-51).
Compared with their peers, children who had been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 4 to 6 years had a 4 times greater risk of depression and 3 times greater risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts in adolescence.
Researchers followed up 2 groups of US children - 125 with early ADHD and 123 matched controls without ADHD - through to age 18 for the study. They found 18 per cent of those with early ADHD made at least one suicide attempt compared with 6 per cent of the controls.
Those who had other behaviour and emotional problems in childhood, such as depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, were the most likely to face adolescent depression. The study also found that having a mother with depression in early childhood increased the risk of later suicidal behaviour in children with ADHD.
And for the first time, researchers said, the study showed having early conduct disorder (a pattern of aggressive, defiant or antisocial behaviour) predicted the specific symptom of attempted suicide.
Professor Alasdair Vance, head of academic child psychiatry at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, said the findings underlined the importance of addressing children’s early emotional problems through educating parents and teachers to intervene.
Parents should understand that among children with anxiety and depression, if it is not addressed, some would go on to develop depression including suicidal thoughts, he said.
| National Helplines | |
|---|---|
| If you or someone you know is depressed and/or having suicidal thoughts, see your doctor, or phone one of these helplines. | |
| Lifeline (24 hours) | 13 11 14 |
| Kids Helpline (under 18 years of age) | 1800 55 1800 |
| Just Ask - rural mental health information | 1300 13 11 14 |
| Mensline Australia (24 hours) | 1300 78 99 78 |
| SANE Helpline - mental illness information, support and referral | 1800 18 SANE (7263) |
Last Reviewed: 29 October 2010
- Chronis-Tuscano A, Molina BS, Pelham WE, et al. Very early predictors of adolescent depression and suicide attempts in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010; 67: 1044-51.
