The Severity of ADHD and ASD Symptoms and Depressive Tendencies in Children

Anna Gawron

Abstract


Introduction: Research shows a rise in depression among children and adolescents. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders face a significantly higher risk compared to their neurotypical peers. However, depressive symptoms are often misinterpreted as secondary to these disorders, leading to a lack of diagnosis and inadequate therapeutic support.
Research Aim: This study aims to analyze the relationship between the severity of ADHD and ASD symptoms and depressive tendencies in children.
Research Method: The survey method was used with standardised psychological tests: the Conners Comprehensive Behaviour Rating Scale (CONNERS 3), the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS) and the Children’s Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2).
Results: A correlation was found between the overall questionnaire scores: CONNERS 3, ASRS, and the CDI 2. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between the Functioning Problems scale of the CDI 2 and the Learning Problems scale of CONNERS 3, as well as the ASRS subscales: Attention, Adult Socialization, Social/Emotional Reciprocity, Self-Regulation, and Social/Communication. The Emotional Problems scale of the CDI 2 correlates only with the
Rigidity in Behaviour scale of the ASRS.
Conclusion: There is a relationship between the severity of ADHD and ASD symptoms and depressive tendencies in children. Co-diagnosing depression alongside autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is justified, despite some of the issues assessed in the CDI 2 for Children and Adolescents overlapping with ADHD and ASD symptoms.

Keywords


depressive disorders, ADHD, ASD, depression in children

Full Text:

PDF

References


American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) DSM-5 (p. 160). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Anant, N., Kaur, D., Nadarajan, R., Phua, D.Y., Chong, Y.S., Gluckman, P.D., Yap, F., Chen, H., Broekman, B., Meaney, M.J., & Ang, Y.S. (2023). Validating the Children’s Depression Inventory-2: Results from the growing up in Singapore towards healthy outcomes (GUSTO) study. Plos One, 18(5), 0286197. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286197

Barker, M.M., Beresford, B., Bland, M., & Fraser, L.K. (2019). Prevalence and incidence of anxiety and depression among children, adolescents, and young adults with life-limiting conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(9), 835–844. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1712

Beck, A., LeBlanc, J.C., Morissette, K., Hamel, C., Skidmore, B., Colquhoun, H., Lang, E., Moore, A., Riva, J.J., ... Stevens, A. (2021). Screening for depression in children and adolescents: A protocol for a systematic review update. Systematic Reviews, 10(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01568-3

Bernaras, E., Jaureguizar, J., & Garaigordobil, M. (2019). Child and adolescent depression: A review of theories, evaluation instruments, prevention programs, and treatments. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 543. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00543

Chandrasekhar, T., & Sikich, L. (2015). Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in autism spectrum disorders across the lifespan. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(2), 219–227. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.2/tchandrasekhar

Charles, J., & Fazeli, M. (2017). Depression in children. Australian Family Physician, 46(12), 901–907.

Ciuhan, G.C., & Iliescu, D. (2021). Depression and learning problems in children: Executive function impairments and inattention as mediators. Acta Psychologica, 220, 103420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103420

Conners, C.K. (2008). Conners Comprehensive Behaviour Rating Scale – Conners (3rd ed.). [Polska adaptacja: Czajkowska, E., & Kania, K. (2016). Zestaw Kwestionariuszy do Diagnozy ADHD i zaburzeń współwystępujących – Conners wydanie trzecie. Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychologicznego].

Cuffe, S.P., Visser, S.N., Holbrook, J.R., Danielson, M.L., Geryk, L.L., Wolraich, M.L., & McKeown, R.E. (2015). ADHD and psychiatric comorbidity: Functional outcomes in a school-based sample of children. Journal of Attention Disorders, 24(9), 1345–1354. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054715613437

Cygan, B. (2021). ADHD a zaburzenia zachowania i osobowość antyspołeczna. Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia Paedagogica, 13, 47–57. https://doi.org/ 10.24917/22992103.13

DeFilippis, M. (2018). Depression in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Children, 5(9), 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5090112

De-la-Iglesia, M., & Olivar, J.S. (2015). Risk factors for depression in children and adolescents with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. The Scientific World Journal, 2015(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/127853

Dickerson Mayes, S., Calhoun, S.L., Murray, M.J., & Zahid, J. (2011). Variables associated with anxiety and depression in children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 23(4), 325–337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-011-9231-7

Gałecki, P., & Szulc, A. (Eds.) (2023). Psychiatria. Rozpoznania według ICD-11., vol. 1, Edra.

Garcia-Argibay, M., Brikell, I., Thapar, A., Lichtenstein, P., Lundström, S., Demontis, D., & Larsson, H. (2024). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and major depressive disorder: Evidence from multiple genetically informed designs. Biological Psychiatry, 95(5), 444–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.07.017

Goldstein, S., & Naglieri J.A. (2009). Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS). [Polska adaptacja: Wrocławska-Warchala, E., & Wujcik, R. (2016). Zestaw Kwestionariuszy do Diagnozy Spektrum Autyzmu ASRS. Podręcznik. Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychologicznego].

Greenlee, J.L., Mosley, A.S., Shui, A.M., Veenstra-Vander Weele, J., & Gotham, K.O. (2016). Medical and behavioral correlates, of depression history in, children and adolescents with, autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 137(2), 105–114. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2851I

Hudson, C.C., Hall, L., & Harkness, K.L. (2018). Prevalence of depressive disorders in individuals with autism spectrum, disorder: A meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47, 165–175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0402-1

ICD-11. (2019). International Classification of Diseases (11th Revision). The global standard for diagnostic health information. https://icd.who.int/en

Janas-Kozik, M., & Wolańczyk, T. (Eds.). (2021). Psychiatria dzieci i młodzieży, vol. 1. PZWL Wydawnictwo Lekarskie. https://doi.org/10.53270/2021.002

Kolendo, N., & Wronka, H. (2021). Depresja wśród dzieci i młodzieży – przebieg, leczenie oraz wpływ na system rodzinny. Kwartalnik Naukowy Fides Et Ratio, 1(45), 158–166. https://doi.org/10.34766/fetr.v45i1.461

Kovacs, M. (2011). Child Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2). [Polska adaptacja: Wrocławska-Warchala, E., & Wujcik, R. (2017). CDI 2 Zestaw Kwestionariuszy do Diagnozy Depresji u Dzieci i Młodzieży. Podręcznik. Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychologicznego].

Levy, T., Kronenberg, S., Crosbie, J., & Schachar, R.S. (2020). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and suicidality in children: The mediating role of depression, irritability and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 265, 200–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.022

Lidstone, J., Uljarević, M., Sullivan, J., Rodgers, J., McConachie, H., Freeston, M., Le Couteur, A., Prior, M., & Leekam, S. (2014). Relations among restricted and repetitive behaviors, anxiety and sensory features in children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(2), 82–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2013.10.001

Meinzer, M.C., & Chronis-Tuscano, A. (2017). ADHD and the development of depression: Commentary on the prevalence, proposed mechanisms, and promising interventions. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 4, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-017-0106-1

Mitchison, G.M., & Njardvik, U. (2015). Prevalence and gender differences of ODD, anxiety, and depression in a sample of children with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(11), 1339–1345. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054715608442

Muskett, A., Capriola-Hall, N.N., Radtke, S.R., Factor, R., & Scarpa, A. (2019). Repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder: Associations with depression and anxiety symptoms. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 68, 101449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2019.101449

Nigg, J.T., Karalunas, S. L., Gustafsson, H.C., Bhatt, P., Ryabinin, P., Mooney, M.A., Faraone, S.V., Fair, D.A., & Wilmot, B. (2019). Evaluating chronic emotional dysregulation and irritability in relation to ADHD and depression genetic risk in children with ADHD. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(2), 205–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13132

Pezzimenti, F., Han, G.T., Vasa, R.A., & Gotham, K. (2019). Depression in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 28(3), 397–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.02.009

Rai, D., Culpin, I., Heuvelman, H., Magnusson, C.M.K., Carpenter, P., Jones, H.J., Emond, A.M., Zammit, S., Golding, J., & Pearson, R.M. (2018). Association of autistic traits with depression from childhood to age 18 years. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(8), 835–843. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.1323

Raczkowski, A. (2017). Depresja dzieci i młodzieży – zjawisko i perspektywy pomocy. Wychowanie w Rodzinie, 16(2), 315–329. https://doi.org/10.23734/wwr20172.315.329

Riglin, L., Leppert, B., Dardani, C., Thapar, A. K., Rice, F., O’Donovan, M.C., Smith, G.D., Stergiakouli, E., Tilling, K., & Thapar, A. (2021). ADHD and depression: Investigating a causal explanation. Psychological Medicine, 51(11), 1890–1897. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720000665

Whitney, D.G., Shapiro, D.N., Peterson, M.D., & Warschausky, S.A. (2019). Factors associated with depression and anxiety in children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63(5), 408–417. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/jir.12583

World Health Organization. (2020). Mental Health Atlas 2020. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/345946/9789240036703-eng.pdf?sequence=1




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/lrp.2025.44.2.133-151
Date of publication: 2025-06-26 23:46:59
Date of submission: 2025-01-07 11:16:22


Statistics


Total abstract view - 4
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 0

Indicators





Copyright (c) 2025 Anna Gawron

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.