Quality of life of adolescent males with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Most psychosocial research on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has focused on deficits in school, family, or behavioral functioning without incorporating perceived quality of life (QoL) or the adolescents' perspective. The Youth Quality of Life Instrument--Research Version (YQOL-R), was used to assess self-perceived QoL in a community sample of adolescents aged 11-18 years. Fifty-five adolescent males with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD were compared to a group of 107 adolescents with no chronic conditions (NCC) and a group of 52 adolescents with mobility impairments (MI). The adolescents with ADHD reported significantly lower perceived QoL scores, particularly in the Self and Relationship domains, than the NCC group. Their scores were similar to those from the group with MI, a group previously shown to have a substandard QoL. Interventions to improve self-esteem and social interactions might use QoL outcomes in evaluating effectiveness.
Topolski
Tari D
TD
University of Washington, Department of Health Services, Seattle 98195-8852, USA. topolski@u.washington.edu
Edwards
Todd C
TC
Patrick
Donald L
DL
Varley
Patti
P
Way
Margaret E
ME
Buesching
Don P
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index