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Association Between Changes in Caregiver Depressive Symptoms and Child Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Morgan Walls1, Howard Cabral2, Emily Feinberg3,4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Dr. Walls is now with the Department of Pediatrics, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC.

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|March 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Caregiver depression impacts child ADHD symptoms. Improving caregiver mental health significantly reduces ADHD symptoms in children, highlighting the importance of family-centered interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Science
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) significantly impacts children and their families.
  • Caregiver depression is a common comorbidity in families of children with ADHD.
  • Understanding the interplay between caregiver and child symptom trajectories is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal association between caregiver depressive symptom trajectories and changes in child ADHD symptoms.
  • To determine if improvements in caregiver mental health correlate with reductions in child ADHD symptom severity.
  • To inform the development of family-focused interventions for ADHD.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from a randomized trial involving 156 dyads of children (aged 6-12) with ADHD and their caregivers.
  • Assessment of child ADHD symptoms using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham rating scale (SNAP-IV) at baseline, 6, and 12 months.
  • Measurement of caregiver depressive symptoms using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) at multiple time points, with multivariable models used for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Children whose caregivers experienced improved depressive symptoms showed significantly greater reductions in ADHD symptom scores (SNAP-IV) compared to those with stable or worsening symptoms.
  • In adjusted models, caregiver depressive symptom improvement was independently associated with greater reductions in child ADHD symptoms over 12 months.
  • Specifically, children of caregivers with improved depressive symptoms had a -1.31 point greater reduction in SNAP-IV scores compared to those whose caregivers' symptoms worsened.

Conclusions:

  • A significant longitudinal association exists between caregiver depressive symptom trajectories and child ADHD symptom changes.
  • Interventions targeting the behavioral health of the entire family unit may be beneficial for urban children with ADHD.
  • Addressing caregiver mental health is a promising strategy for improving outcomes in pediatric ADHD.
Abstract

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