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Associations of Lifetime Depression with Trauma Exposure, Other Environmental Adversities, and Impairment in Adolescents with ADHD

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Abstract

Depression is a common, potentially devastating comorbidity in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). Various environmental adversities are well-described as correlates of depression in general pediatric populations, but not in youth with ADHD. In 104 adolescents with ADHD, we examined potential environmental correlates of lifetime depression, including trauma exposure, recent negative life events and current parent-child conflict, along with current and past ADHD severity and current impairment. Controlling for demographic variables, comorbid disorders, and ADHD severity, we noted significant associations between lifetime depression and environmental adversities, including victimization trauma, parent-child conflict, and behaviorally-independent negative life events. Current impairment but not ADHD severity was also highly associated with lifetime depression, controlling for the same covariates. Findings from this preliminary, cross-sectional study suggest that environmental adversities and impairment in youth with ADHD should also be targeted along with the ADHD when contemplating strategies to treat or prevent comorbid depression.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression Young Investigator’s Award (to Dr. Daviss), and National Institute of Mental Health grants K23 MH 065375 (PI: Dr. Daviss) and P30 MH066371 (PI: Dr. David Brent). Findings from this study were previously been presented October, 2006 at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, San Diego, CA. We thank Dr. Jim Mintz for his advice regarding statistical analysis of this project. We also gratefully acknowledge Diane Holland and Renee’ Weinman for their help coordinating this project, Aaron Jennings and Kim Dever for their help as interviewers, and Deena Battista, Giovanna Porta, Rebecca Munnell, Ellie Kanal, and Travis Brewer for their help with data entry.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229-3900, USA

    W. Burleson Daviss

  2. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Rasim S. Diler & Boris Birmaher

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  1. W. Burleson Daviss
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  2. Rasim S. Diler
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  3. Boris Birmaher
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Correspondence to W. Burleson Daviss.

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Daviss, W.B., Diler, R.S. & Birmaher, B. Associations of Lifetime Depression with Trauma Exposure, Other Environmental Adversities, and Impairment in Adolescents with ADHD. J Abnorm Child Psychol 37, 857–871 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9318-0

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