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Quality of life of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Anne F Klassen1

  • 1University of British Columbia, Department of Pediatrics, Centre for Community Child Health Research, Room L408, Children's and Women's Health Centre of BC, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada. afk@interchange.ubc.ca

Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research
|October 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience significantly poorer quality of life, particularly in psychosocial and family domains. This review highlights the importance of assessing quality of life in ADHD research and clinical practice.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Quality of Life Research

Background:

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children.
  • Quality of life (QoL) is an increasingly recognized outcome measure in pediatric health conditions.
  • Limited synthesis exists on QoL findings specifically for children with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and synthesize findings on quality of life in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • To compare QoL outcomes in children with ADHD against general population norms.
  • To estimate the clinical significance of observed QoL differences using effect sizes.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted across three databases.
  • Ten publications, encompassing 1382 children with ADHD, were identified and reviewed.
  • The 50-item parent-reported Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) was a primary measure used for comparison with population norms.

Main Results:

  • Children with ADHD reported significantly more challenges across all psychosocial domains and family activities compared to the general population.
  • Effect sizes for physical health domains were generally small.
  • Substantial negative pooled effect sizes were observed for mental health (-0.55), self-esteem (-0.75), parental impact (-0.85 to -1.45), role/behavioral aspects (-1.22), behavior (-1.44), and family activities (-1.67).

Conclusions:

  • Children with ADHD exhibit a demonstrably poorer quality of life compared to their peers in the general population.
  • Quality of life is an essential outcome to consider in the comprehensive assessment and management of ADHD.
  • Validated instruments like the CHQ-PF50 provide valuable insights into the QoL impact of ADHD on children and their families.

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