ADHD with Co-Occurring Depression/Anxiety in Children: The Relationship with Somatic Complaints and Parental Socio-Economic Position

Abstract

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression/anxiety are often comorbid in children, and consequences of ADHD are more detrimental in lower socioeconomic levels. The aim of this study was to compare co-occurrence of ADHD and depression/anxiety with ADHD alone and depression/anxiety alone when the outcome measure is somatic complaints. Additionally, we examined whether low parental Socio-Economic Position (SEP) were related to occurrence of ADHD alone, depression/anxiety alone, and co-occurrence. The sample consisted of 12,900 parents who participated in a cross-sectional health survey that included Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and impact supplement. Socio-economic factors were dichotomized into low versus average/high parental socio-economic position (SEP), abdominal pain, neck pain and headache were categorized as somatic complaints. Parents described 58 % of the children with ADHD as comorbid with depression/anxiety. Children with ADHD only report somatic complaints when thedisorder is co-occurring with depression/anxiety. The prevalence of ADHD, depression/ anxiety, or a combination of the two disorders in children, is higher when parents have a low socio-economic position. Increased awareness of the heterotypic nature of ADHD is needed, especially when interpreting somatic complaints. There is a pattern of an inverse relationship between mental health and socio-economic position in children when measured by ADHD and depression/anxiety.

Functional Connectivity of Child and Adolescent Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Patients: Correlation with IQ

“…Comparison of sex ratio, ADHD scores, and ADHD subtype ratio did not yield significant differences ( p > 0.05) between the child and adolescent ADHD groups ( Table 1 ). There were more boys than girls in ADHD group and it is a natural condition as boys make up larger portion of ADHD patients than girls (Lorberboym et al, 2004; Blum and Chen, 2008; Leirbakk, 2015). Comparison of sex ratio did not yield significant differences ( p > 0.05) between the child and adolescent NC groups ( Table 1 ).…”

The effects of chiropractic adjustment on inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a pilot RCT

“…In contrast, spinal pain or injury were not required inclusion criteria in the current study. While there is limited epidemiologic information on this topic, somatic complaints such as spinal pain or headache are commonly described comorbidities accompanying ADHD in children ( Leirbakk et al, 2015 ). Accordingly, lack of requirement of comorbid somatic or spinal symptoms may have influenced the findings of the present study.…”

The Difference in the Quality of Life of Korean Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Between Before and After COVID-19

“…Through these questions, it can be interpreted that the quarantine situation of being restricted to a limited area affected physical function and QoL. Furthermore, children with ADHD and comorbid depression or anxiety are significantly associated with somatic complaints [ 23 , 24 ]. In this study, anxiety, as measured by the RCMAS, showed significantly higher scores in the COVID-19 group than pre-COVID-19 group.…”