A study on the correlation between the symptoms of school-age children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and maternal depression and anxiety

ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between the symptoms of school-age children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and maternal depression and anxiety.

MethodsAccording to the diagnostic criteria of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(DSM-V), 120 school-age children with ADHD and 120 normal school-age children were divided into the case group and control group, respectively.The anxiety and depression in two groups were evaluated and compared by the self-rating depression scale(SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale(SAS).The symptoms and behavior problems of ADHD children were assessed using SNAP-IV.The correlations between children's ADHD symptoms and their mothers' depression and anxiety were analyzed.In combination with the time and duration of the first discovery of symptoms, the correlation between children's ADHD symptoms and maternal depression and anxiety scores were analyzed.

ResultsThe standard scores of SDS and SAS of mothers in case group were significantly higher than those in control group(P < 0.01), and the severity of depression and anxiety of mothers in case group were significantly higher than those in control group(P < 0.01).The standard scores of SDS and severity of depression of mothers in preschool age subgroup were higher than those in school-age subgroup(P < 0.01).The SNAP-IV hyperactivity factor score and total score were positively correlated with the standard scores of SAS in preschool age subgroup(P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).There was not significant correlation between the scores of attention deficit factors in ADHD children and standard score of SAS of mothers(P>0.05), and the scores of other factors and total score in ADHD children were positively correlated with the standard scores of SDS and SAS of mothers in school-age subgroup(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe mothers of schoo-age children with ADHD are prone to have depression and anxiety.According to the time of the discovery of symptoms, the symptoms of school-age children with ADHD are correlated with maternal depression and anxiety to varying degrees.