Low quality of life scores in school children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder related to anxiety

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an alteration that begins early in infancy and whose cardinal symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. There are few studies for specific tests to measure Quality of Life (QoL) in children with ADHD. METHODS: We evaluated QoL of 120 children from 7-12 years of age with ADHD and of a group of 98 healthy control children. To measure QoL, we utilized the Questionnaire of Quality of Life for Children in Pictures (AutoQuestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé, AUQUEI). We evaluated anxiety in children by the Children´s Manifest Anxiety Scale-Revisited (CMAS-R). We compared results among groups and employed the calculation of correlation between the AUQUEI questionnaire and the CMAS-R scale. RESULTS: The total average of the AUQUEI questionnaire in children with ADHD was 45.2, while in the control group it was 54.3 (p<0.05). We also observed significant differences between the control group and groups of children with ADHD in the CMAS-R scale. We found significant correlations between AUQUEI questionnaire and CMAS-R scale. CONCLUSION: The main result was to the disclosure that low QoL scores in ADHD children was anxiety-related.

Differential motor alterations in children with three types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…These authors observed a positive correlation between QoL and the psychomotor development of children with ADHD in the following areas: fine motor and spatial organization with social and psychosocial aspects; gross motor control with emotional aspects, and temporal organization with the emotional, psychosocial, and in overall, with QoL. Their results are in line with our data reported here and with those we found in other observation that disclosed a low QoL in children with ADHD is related with anxiety levels 21 . Comparison are limited by the test used to study motor behavior.…”

Applying a developmental approach to quality of life assessment in children and adolescents with psychological disorders: challenges and guidelines

“…The reviewed studies were conducted in several countries, including the US (n = 26) [24, 32-33, 37, 43, 45-47, 51, 53, 59-60, 63-64, 67-68, 72-74, 76-78, 86-87, 89, 91]; Germany (n = 6) [40,44,48,54,79,92]; Switzerland (n = 3) [23, 82,84]; the Netherlands (n = 4) [13,38,52,66]; Australia (n = 3) [14,[49][50]; Turkey (n = 3) [41,61,80]; Brazil (n = 2) [39,83]; Spain (n = 2) [36,85]; Italy (n = 2) [70,71]; Taiwan (n = 2) [55][56]; Iran (n = 1) [42]; UK (n = 1) [69]; Norway (n = 1) [35]; Hungary (n = 1) [88]; France (n = 1) [58]; Canada (n = 1) [18]; Japan (n = 1) [81]; Greece (n = 1) [90]; and Mexico (n = 1) [57]. Four studies were conducted in two or more countries [34,62,65,75].…”

Error related negativity and multi-source interference task in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-combined type

“…Children were examined by means of neurological, psychiatric, and electrophysiological tests. ADHD diagnosis was carried-out in agreement with recommendations of the American Psychiatry Society guidelines 1 , in a three-step level as follows 2,3 . The first, was the atschool screening; the second, was conducted by means of DSM-IV-R questionnaire, and the third, comprised a semistructured interview, taking into account the persistence of the disorder for a period .…”

“…Children with ADHD present difficulties in several areas, such as those related to school, home or different social environments that affect their Quality of Life (QoL) 2 . Children with ADHD present alterations in other domains, such as executive functions (EF) 3 .…”

“…Children with ADHD can be classified in three groups as follows: predominantly hyperactive (ADHD-H), inattentive (ADHD-I), and combined type (ADHD-C). The more frequent is ADHD-C type 2,3 .…”