14 DAY TRIAL // The conclusions of a new, large-scale survey indicate that children who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are very likely to suffer from other mental disorders as well, whereas their peers who do not have the condition have a lower chance of suffering from other conditions.
These discoveries are based on an investigation carried out on nearly 61,800 children, aged between 6 and 17. Interestingly, the existence of other mental disorders was reported by the parents.
Scientists behind the new investigation were also able to find an interesting connection between parents' wealth and their kids' chances of developing multiple conditions alongside ADHD.
It was demonstrated that children with ADHD whose parents were poor were 4 times more likely than their wealthy peers – also suffering from the condition – to be affected by associated disorders.
Of the test group, some 5,000 kids had been diagnosed with ADHD by the time the study began. The data were collected from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, PsychCentral reports.
The research revealed that two thirds of ADHD children also had at least one other mental disorder. Of the non-ADHD kids in the survey, only 11 percent had an associated mental condition, the team says.
“Clinical management of ADHD must address multiple co-morbid conditions and manage a range of adverse functional outcomes,” the experts write in a paper detailing the findings.
“Therapeutic approaches should be responsive to each child’s neurodevelopmental profile, tailored to their unique social and family circumstances, and integrated with educational, mental health and social support services,” they argue.
Full details of the investigation were published in the February 7 online issue of the esteemed scientific journal Pediatrics. The study authors noted that about 46 percent of all ADHD kids had learning disabilities when compared to their peers.
About 27 percent of the sufferers had a conduct disorder, their parents reported, adding that 18 percent suffered from anxiety, 12 percent had speech problems, while 14 percent suffered from depression.