Symptoms of ADHD and depression in a large adolescent population: co-occurring symptoms and associations to experiences of sexual abuse.

BACKGROUND

Symptoms of either attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression constitute the most common reasons for contact with child and adolescent psychiatry. The development of psychiatric symptoms can be explained by a combination of environmental stress events and genetic vulnerability. One common form of environmental stress with high impact on health is sexual abuse.

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence and co-occurrence of symptoms of ADHD and depression in relation to experiences of sexual abuse in a large adolescent general population.

METHOD: All 15- and 18-year-old students (n = 4910) in the Swedish county of Vestmanland answered a school-based screening instrument including the six-question ADHD self-rating scale (ASRS), the Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS) and questions relating to experiences of sexual abuse.

RESULTS

The prevalence of co-occurring symptoms of ADHD and depression was 2.4% (boys 1.0%, girls 3.9%). The prevalence of experience of any sexual abuse was 20.9% (boys 13.3%, girls 28.7%). Of those with co-occurring symptoms, 48% of the boys and 47% of the girls reported a history of sexual abuse.

CONCLUSIONS

School-based screening for co-occurring symptoms of ADHD and depression might be a method that identifies students at psychiatric and psychosocial risk.