ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: The Role of Community Violence Exposure

Citation

Stickley, Andrew; Koposov, Roman; Koyanagi, Ai; Inoue, Yosuke; & Ruchkin, Vladislav (2019). ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: The Role of Community Violence Exposure. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 54(6), 683-691.

Abstract

PURPOSE: Comorbid depression is common in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As yet, however, little is known about the factors associated with co-occurring depression in this population. To address this research gap, the current study examined the role of community violence exposure in the association between ADHD symptoms and depression.
METHODS: Data came from 505 Russian adolescents [mean age 14.37 (SD = 0.96)] who had teacher-reported information on ADHD symptoms that was collected in conjunction with the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA). Adolescent self-reports of witnessing and being a victim of community violence were also obtained while depressive symptoms were self-assessed with an adapted version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations.
RESULTS: In univariable analyses, both witnessing and being a victim of violence were associated with significantly increased odds for depressive symptoms in adolescents with ADHD symptoms compared to non-ADHD adolescents who had not experienced community violence. However, in the multivariable analysis only being a victim of violence continued to be associated with significantly increased odds for depression [odds ratio (OR) 4.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-16.35].
CONCLUSION: Exposure to community violence may be associated with depression in adolescents with ADHD symptoms. Clinicians should enquire about exposure to community violence in adolescents with ADHD/ADHD symptoms. Early therapeutic interventions to address the effects of violence exposure in adolescents with ADHD may be beneficial for preventing depression in this group.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01662-5

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2019

Journal Title

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Author(s)

Stickley, Andrew
Koposov, Roman
Koyanagi, Ai
Inoue, Yosuke
Ruchkin, Vladislav