title: Self-esteem evaluation in children and adolescents suffering from ADHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several recent studies investigated the relationship between self-esteem and ADHD, however, the results are still controversial. In the present study we analyze the characteristics of self-esteem in a sample of children and adolescents suffering from ADHD, with a particular focus on the relationship between ADHD symptoms severity and treatment strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 85 patients with ADHD (44 drug-free and 41 drug-treated, 23 of which atomoxetine-treated and 18 Methylphenidate-treated) and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in the study in order to evaluate self-esteem using the Self-esteem Multidimensional Test (TMA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADHD subjects revealed lower scores on all self-esteem domains compared to controls. Both ADHD drug-free (47.1%) and ADHD drug-treated (44.1%) groups showed significantly higher rates of subjects in the pathological range as compared to normal control group (8.8%) (p <.001) with a higher percentage of subjects in the pathological range. Among ADHD drug-treated subjects, the methylphenidate group showed higher self-esteem scores as compared to the atomoxetine group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A lower self-esteem profile is more common in subjects suffering from ADHD than in healthy controls, suggesting the importance of an early detection of psychological well-being in these children in order to reduce the ADHD symptoms long-term impacts.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, I.R.C.C.S. Children Hospital Bambino Gesu', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Postorino
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guarnera
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mannino
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armando
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fatta
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Peppo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vicari
keywords: ADHD; Adolescents; Atomoxetine; Children; Methylphenidate; Self-esteem.