Perinatal problems and psychiatric comorbidity among children with ADHD
Elizabeth B Owens1, Stephen P Hinshaw
1a Institute of Human Development, University of California , Berkeley.
Summary
Prenatal and perinatal risks like infant breathing problems and early labor predict childhood depression in girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These factors are linked to depression, not anxiety or externalizing disorders.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Perinatal Health
Background:
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with significant comorbidity.
- Understanding prenatal and perinatal risk factors for psychiatric comorbidity in girls with ADHD is crucial for early intervention.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the specific links between perinatal factors and comorbid conditions in girls with ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific and cumulative prenatal and perinatal risk factors and psychiatric comorbidity in girls with ADHD.
- To examine whether these associations differ for various comorbid conditions, including depression, anxiety, and externalizing disorders.
- To determine if these associations persist after controlling for socioeconomic status and maternal psychiatric symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two independent samples: the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (N=579) and the Berkeley Girls ADHD Longitudinal Sample (N=140).
- Retrospective maternal report of prenatal/perinatal risk factors (e.g., smoking, drug use, labor complications, birth weight, breathing problems).
- Assessment of childhood psychiatric comorbidity using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC).
Main Results:
- Infant breathing problems, early labor, and total perinatal problems significantly predicted childhood comorbid depression in girls with ADHD.
- These associations remained significant after controlling for family socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal ADHD/depression symptoms.
- No significant associations were found between perinatal risk factors and comorbid anxiety or externalizing disorders.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal risk factors are significant precursors to childhood psychiatric comorbidity, specifically depression, in girls with ADHD.
- The link between perinatal risks and depression is not solely explained by maternal psychiatric symptoms or SES.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and addressing perinatal complications in the context of ADHD in girls.
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