Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, perceived stress, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19
Andrew Stickley1, Aya Shirama1, Takuma Inagawa2
1Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
Objective:
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms have been linked to suicidal behavior. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in this association. This study examined ADHD symptoms and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of self-perceived stress in this association.
Method:
Data were analyzed from an online sample of 1,452 Japanese individuals aged 18 to 89 obtained in February 2021. Information was collected on past-year suicidal ideation. ADHD symptoms were assessed with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener while stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. Logistic regression was used to examine associations.
Results:
Fifty-one (3.5%) individuals had ADHD symptoms, while more than one in ten (11.7%) of the respondents reported past-year suicidal ideation. In an analysis adjusted for sociodemographic factors, ADHD symptoms were associated with eight times higher odds for past-year suicidal ideation. However, adjusting the analysis for mental health variables (anxiety and depressive symptoms) attenuated the association which became non-significant (odds ratio [OR]: 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-4.18). In contrast, in an analysis adjusted for mental health, individuals with ADHD symptoms and stress had significantly higher odds for suicidal ideation (OR: 3.72, 95%CI: 1.43-9.67) whereas, ADHD symptoms without stress were not linked to suicidal ideation (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 0.38-4.18).
Conclusions:
Self-perceived stress is important in the association between ADHD symptoms and suicidal ideation among individuals in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Detecting and managing stress and its effects in individuals with ADHD/ADHD symptoms should be a therapeutic focus for improving health-related outcomes in this population both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Types of Stressors
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...

