Study Links ADHD in Children with Depression, Suicide Risk

A new study conducted by the University of Chicago reveals that children who are diagnosed with ADHD from the ages of 4-6 are more likely to suffer from depression and/or suicide attempts.
Benjamin B. Lahey, professor of epidemiology at the University of Chicago, led a team who studied 125 children who were diagnosed with ADHD between 4 and 6, and 123 who were ADHD-free.  Study participants were followed until they were 18 years old.

Study Conclusions

At the end of the study, the researchers found that 12% of children or adolescents of the ADHD group admitted to having a detailed plan to commit suicide, compared to 1.6% of ADHD-free kids.  Additionally, they discovered that 18% of the participants with ADHD attempted suicide at least once, compared to 5.7% of those who were disorder free. 

The ADHD children were divided into three categories:

*those who suffered from inattentiveness
*those who were hyperactive
*those who demonstrated a combination of both behaviors

When categorized in such fashion, the team discovered that those in the latter subtype were more likely to have attempted suicide, while those who suffered from inattentiveness alone were at greater risk of developing depression.
 
Other Risk Factors

Among those who were diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, girls were more likely to suffer from depression than boys.  Additionally, children who had depressed mothers suffered from depression to a greater extent, as did those who were both highly anxious and had displayed behavioral problems.

In addition to the current study, prior studies have shown a definitive link between ADHD and depression. According to WebMd, 37% of adults who’ve been diagnosed with ADHD are depressed – additionally, research has shown that when depression occurs in tandem with ADHD, it strikes earlier, lasts longer and is more severe. 

According to Dr. Michael Forrest, a psychologist in Northwest Arkansas, adults with ADHD are not only depressed, they also may exhibit behaviors that mimic bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.  In fact, he states that in many cases, the three disorders overlap one another.

Although medication is definitely an option, there are certain coping strategies that can also help keep the depression that can typically accompany ADHD at bay.  Following are some suggestions Food Consumer has gleaned from several individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD and are currently being prescribed medication for the disorder.  All of them agree that regardless of whether or not you choose medication, these strategies are vital to not only maintain productivity, but to enable peace of mind.  Here are their lines of attack:

*According to Jordan B., diligently using and referring to a calendar is a great place to start.   She recalls her first experiences as a college student with ADHD:  ““I remember my first semester of college as being incredibly overwhelming. I felt as if I were walking in a circular room at times; I had difficult moving out of my mental fog into focused study. I needed to somehow "linearly" divide up my time into doable steps. Creative people, as well as those with ADD, tend to think spatially, or non-linearly. We must ‘force’ ourselves to ‘line’ things up, so to speak, so that we can progress through a to-do list one step at a time.”

*As anyone with ADHD can attest, difficulty staying on task is a monumental problem.  To cope with her tendency to drift from one project to the next without adequate follow through, “Mandy” suggests dividing the day into “sections.”  This may seem simplistic, but according to Mandy, this tactic genuinely works.  “Looking through the day in its entirety is simply too overwhelming for me.  I have to break it up by morning, afternoon and evening or by class time, work schedule and study time.  Next, I fill in all of the time in my day that is automatically accounted for, like the times I’m in class.  Next, I fill in work hours, and finally my study time.”

Because of her study schedule, her doctor has adjusted the times she takes her medication to coincide more with a college student’s schedule, which can oftentimes include late nights for studying.
She further adds that although she loves the variety of her schedule, which is typical of anyone who’s been diagnosed with ADHD, that variety has to be scheduled, planned and thought through so she doesn’t do what comes naturally, and that is to randomly hop from one task to another.

*To deal with her tendency to drift and not focus, Sandra T. tries to “parameterize” herself as best she can.  “I particularly have trouble with inattentiveness while driving, so I’ve made it a habit to set my cruise control, especially when the speed limit is fairly low, so that I don’t ‘forget’ and begin to go over it.”

*”After reading the book “Driven to Distraction” [by Drs. Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey], I discovered the reason why I feel so stressed when I go shopping, especially in an all-in-one type of store like Wal-Mart,” says Rachel M.  She’s referring to the point the authors made outlining the reasons why shopping can be stressful to people with ADHD.  “It was freeing for me to realize that I didn’t HAVE to do it; the variety and overstimulation is too much to contend with.” 

Certainly, such stress experienced by those with ADHD can lead to depression, if it is not dealt with.  The benefit of the study linking depression to those diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, Dr. Lahey tells WebMd, is that their parents can be aware that they are more susceptible, and can have them assessed regularly.  They can also take measures to minimize sadness and depression by teaching them appropriate coping strategies.