Rates of Depression in Children and Adolescents With ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a significant concern in pediatric populations with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of depression in children and adolescents with ADHD, excluding those with intellectual disability (ID).
• To compare depression rates in children and adolescents with ADHD to neurotypical peers.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search across six databases yielded 20,745 studies; 24 were included after screening.
• Meta-analysis estimated pooled depression rates, with subgroup analyses examining factors like sex, pubertal status, and assessment methods.
• Case-control studies were used to compare depression rates between ADHD and neurotypical youth.

Main Results:

• The pooled prevalence of depression in children and adolescents with ADHD (without ID) was estimated at 11.31%.
• Depression rates varied widely (1.7%–60%) across studies.
• Females exhibited higher depression rates than males, and combined assessment methods (questionnaires and interviews) yielded the highest observed rates.

Conclusions:

• Depression is a common comorbidity in children and adolescents with ADHD, with higher rates than in neurotypical peers.
• Utilizing multiple assessment methods is crucial for accurately diagnosing depression in this population.
• Further research is needed to understand depression's developmental trajectory in youth with ADHD.