Depressive symptoms and associated factors in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To compare depressive symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to those in healthy children, and to explore the influence of individual and family factors on level of depression.


METHODS
Individual interviews with 68 children, ages 7 to 12 years, in order to complete the Children's Depression Inventory.


RESULTS
Children with ADHD reported significantly more depressive symptoms than did children without ADHD; 14.7% of children with ADHD reached the threshold of a 19 point score, which suggests clinical depression. No significant effects of individual and family factors on level of depression were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with ADHD are more inclined to experience depressive symptoms than are healthy children. To plan appropriate interventions, nurses evaluating and working with children with ADHD should always consider a possible coexistence of depressive symptoms.
LeBlanc
Nancy
N
Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada. leblancnancy@hotmail.com
Morin
Diane
D
D017677:Age Distribution; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors