New insights into the comorbidity between ADHD and major depression in adolescent and young adult females.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depression (MD) in adolescent and young adult females.


METHODS
Subjects were females with (n = 140) and without (n = 122) ADHD ascertained from pediatric and psychiatric settings. Subjects were followed prospectively for 5 years into adolescence and young adulthood and reassessed in multiple nonoverlapping domains including psychiatric, cognitive, interpersonal, family, and educational functioning.


RESULTS
Females with ADHD had a 2.5 times higher risk for MD at adolescent follow-up compared with control females, adjusting for psychiatric comorbidity. MD in females with ADHD was associated with an earlier age at onset, greater than twice the duration, more severe depression-associated impairment, a higher rate of suicidality, and a greater likelihood of requiring psychiatric hospitalization than MD in control girls. Parental MD and proband mania were significant predictors of MD among females with ADHD, independently of other predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
MD emerging in the context of ADHD in females is an impairing and severe comorbidity worthy of further clinical and scientific considerations.
Biederman
Joseph
J
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.. Electronic address: jbiederman@partners.org.
Ball
Sarah W
SW
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Monuteaux
Michael C
MC
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Mick
Eric
E
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Spencer
Thomas J
TJ
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
McCREARY
Michelle
M
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Cote
Michelle
M
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Faraone
Stephen V
SV
Drs. Biederman, Ball, Monuteaux, Mick, and Spencer, Ms. McCreary, and Ms. Cote are with the Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Biederman is with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Dr. Faraone is with the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data