Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Background: Comorbidity between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression and anxiety disorders in children and young to middle-aged adults has been well documented in the literature.Yet, it is still unknown whether this comorbidity persists into later life.The aim of this study is therefore to examine the comorbidity of anxiety and depressive symptomsamong older adults with ADHD.This is examined both using crosssectional and longitudinal data.Methods: Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).Participants were examined in three measurement cycles, covering six years.They were asked about depressive and anxiety symptoms.To diagnose ADHD, the DIVA 2.0, a diagnostic interview was administered among a subsample (N=231, age 60-94).In addition to the ADHD diagnosis, the association between the sum score of ADHD symptoms and anxiety and depressive symptoms was examined.Data were analyzed by means of linear regression analyses and linear mixed models.Results: Both ADHD diagnosis and more ADHD symptoms were associated with more anxiety and depressive symptoms cross-sectionally as well as longitudinally.The longitudinal analyses showed that respondents with higher scores of ADHD symptoms reported an increase of depressive symptoms over six years whereas respondents with fewer ADHD symptoms remained stable.Limitations: The ADHD diagnosis is based on the DSM-IV criteria, which was developed for children, and has not yet been validated in (older) adults.Conclusions: It appears that the association between ADHD and anxiety/depression remains in place with aging.This suggests that, in clinical practice, directing attention to both in concert may be fruitful.
Author: Marieke Michielsen
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2184367264