Factors Related to Self-Reported Attention Deficit Among Incoming University Students

Investigation of the interpersonal theory of suicide in the context of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatology and suicide ideation

OBJECTIVE

The current study examines components of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide as mediators of the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and suicide ideation in college students with elevated depressive symptoms. Specifically, indirect effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness were simultaneously evaluated on the association between self-reported ADHD symptoms and suicide ideation, controlling for gender and levels of depression.

METHOD

Participants were 217 college students with elevated depressive symptoms (M_age  = 20.72 years old; SD = 3.74) who participated in a larger study on mood and well-being. The sample was predominantly female (77.9% female) and Hispanic (72.7%).

RESULTS

In a multivariate mediation model controlling for gender and depressive symptoms, there were significant indirect effects of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness on the association between self-reported ADHD symptoms and suicide ideation.

CONCLUSION

Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness may represent promising targets for preventing suicide ideation in individuals with elevated ADHD symptoms.

Effects of Childhood Adversity and Its Interaction with the MAOA, BDNF, and COMT Polymorphisms on Subclinical Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms in Generally Healthy Youth

We aimed to investigate the effects of childhood adversity and its interaction with the polymorphisms in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes on attention and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in a community sample of generally healthy youth. Participants (N = 432) completed questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness) and adverse childhood experiences, such as adverse environments (AEs) and childhood maltreatment (CM). Salivary genomic DNA was used to test polymorphisms in MAOA, BDNF, and COMT genes. A gene score (GS) was created based on the number of risk allele in the studied genes. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the genetic and environmental effects on ADHD symptoms. The univariate analysis indicated that CM was significantly associated with inattention (β = 0.48 [95% confidence interval 0.16-0.79]), hyperactivity (0.25 [0.06-0.45]), and impulsiveness (1.16 [0.26-2.05]), while the GS was associated with hyperactivity (0.22 [0.11-0.33]) and impulsiveness (0.56 [0.06-1.05]). Only the GS remained significantly associated with hyperactivity (0.25 [0.12-0.37]) and impulsiveness (0.79 [0.20-1.38]) when the gene-environment interaction term was added in the model. No effects were found for AE and the gene-environment interaction term. In conclusion, CM was associated with ADHD symptoms in emerging adulthood. Genetic factors may also play a significant role in the association with these outcomes.

Perceived stress partially accounts for the association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and suicidal ideation among students

The association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and suicidal ideation has been the focus of recent research interest among youths and young adults. However, the role perceived stress plays in this association is unclear. We investigated whether perceived stress accounts for the association between ADHD and subsequent suicidal ideation among French students enrolled in the i-Share cohort. The associations between ADHD symptoms, perceived stress at baseline, and suicidal ideation during follow-up were investigated using logistic regression models, and Structural Equation Modeling was used to estimate the indirect effect via perceived stress. In total 4333 participants (median age: 20.3 years; [interquartile range: 18.7-21.8]) were included in the main analyses. ADHD was associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.15 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.04-1.26]). Perceived stress partially accounts for the association between ADHD and suicidal ideation (proportion explained 49%). Our study suggests that ADHD and perceived stress represent mental health targets for suicide prevention programs.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and addictions (substance and behavioral): Prevalence and characteristics in a multicenter study in France

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine the possible links between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the presence of concomitant addictions with or without substance use in a French student population.

MEASURES

A battery of questionnaire measuring socioeconomic characteristics, university curriculum, ADHD (Wender Utah Rating Scale and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale), substance consumptions (alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis), and behavioral addictions [(eating disorders (SCOFF)], Internet addiction (Internet Addiction Test), food addiction (Yale Food Addiction Scale), compulsive buying (Echeburua's), and problem gambling (The Canadian Problem Gambling Index)] and measures of physical activity (Godin's Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire) was filled up by university students in Rouen and Nanterre in France.

RESULTS

A total of 1,517 students were included (472 from Paris Nanterre and 1,042 from Rouen). The mean age was 20.6 years (SD = 3.6) and the sex ratio male to female was 0.46. The prevalence of ADHD among the students (current ADHD with a history of ADHD in childhood) was 5.6%. A quarter (25.7%) of students had already repeated their university curriculum, compared to 42.2% among the students with ADHD. Students with possible ADHD had repeated classes more often and believed to have a lower academic level than the students without ADHD. Significant differences were found as students with ADHD were less likely to succeed in their studies (repeated classes more often) than non-ADHD students, and considered their academic level to be lower. They also had significantly higher scores on substance (alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco) as well as behavioral addictions (gambling, compulsive buying disorder, eating disorders, and Internet addiction).

CONCLUSION

It seems essential to determine students' problems and propose interventions adapted to students' needs, in order to reduce the negative impact on their future academic and global successes.

Factors associated with problematic internet use among children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to determine the association of problematic internet use with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), personal risk factors, and familial factors and compare with a healthy control group and investigate the risk factors.

METHODS:

The study sample consisted of 34 children aged 12–16 years and their families who applied to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with the diagnosis of ADHD. The control group consisted of 36 junior high and high school children aged 12–16 years and their families. The control group was matched with the ADHD group for age and sex. The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present and LifetimeVersion (K-SADS-PL) version was used according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV criteria for patients with ADHD and the control group. Internet/Computer Use Assessment Questionnaire for Children/Adolescents, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire adolescent form (SDQ), and Online Cognition Scale (OCS) were applied to children. Internet/Computer Use Assessment Questionnaire for Parents and SDQ-parent form and Family Assessment (FAS) were applied to the parents.

RESULTS:

Weekly internet usage was higher in the ADHD group than the control group. The OCS total scores and subscale scores were significantly higher in the ADHD group. The subscales of SDQ hyperactivity, conduct problems, and peer problems were significantly higher in the ADHD group. FAS-general functions, communication, roles and behavior control subscale scores were higher in the ADHD group. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the internet usage in the daily life, with the availability of a computer and internet at home. In the ADHD group, there was a significant correlation between the OCS scores, weekly internet usage, and psychiatric comorbidities Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder. Also, affective responsiveness subscale scores of FAS were significantly correlated with OCS scores in the ADHD group.

CONCLUSION:

In this study, it was noted that problematic internet use was more frequent in ADHD. During ADHD treatment, problematic internet use may interfere in the treatment goals. Interventions to problematic internet use should consider familial emotional expression studies.

Factors related to self-reported social anxiety symptoms among incoming university students

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the lifestyle/social, personality trait and mental factors among incoming university students with higher self-reported social anxiety symptoms (SAS).

METHODS

A total of 5126 incoming university students were recruited. The test battery included a self-administered questionnaire that examined personal lifestyle, the Measurement of Support Functions, the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale-Revision, the Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale, the Social Phobia Inventory, the suicide ideation from the Brief Symptoms Rating Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire.

RESULTS

SAS (23.7%) were prevalent. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that the significant predictors of higher levels of SAS were being an undergraduate student and a non-smoker, having lower Measurement of Support Functions score (poorer social support), having higher Chinese Internet Addiction Scale-Revision score (Internet addiction), having lower Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale score (less altruistic behaviour), having suicide ideation and having higher Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire score (poorer sleeper).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the high prevalence of SAS among university students, it is necessary to build a better strategy to detect students with potential social anxiety-related problems/disorders or other mental problems early on.

The association between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and internet addiction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to analyze the association between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Internet addiction (IA).

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in four online databases in total including CENTRAL, EMBASE, PubMed and PsychINFO. Observational studies (case-control, cross-sectional and cohort studies) measuring the correlation between IA and ADHD were screened for eligibility. Two independent reviewers screened each article according to the predetermined inclusion criteria. A total of 15 studies (2 cohort studies and 13 cross-sectional studies) met our inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative synthesis. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

A moderate association between IA and ADHD was found. Individuals with IA were associated with more severe symptoms of ADHD, including the combined total symptom score, inattention score and hyperactivity/impulsivity score. Males were associated with IA, whereas there was no significant correlation between age and IA.

CONCLUSIONS

IA was positively associated with ADHD among adolescents and young adults. Clinicians and parents should pay more attention to the symptoms of ADHD in individuals with IA, and the monitoring of Internet use of patients suffering from ADHD is also necessary. Longitudinal studies controlling for baseline mental health are needed.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and suicide: A systematic review

AIM

To investigate suicidality and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this paper aims to systematically review the literature as an extension of previous reviews.

METHODS

We searched five databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Psychinfo, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) with two categories of search terms: (1) suicide; suicidal; suicide behavior; suicide attempt; suicidal thought; and (2) ADHD.

RESULTS

The search resulted 26 articles. There is a positive association between ADHD and suicidality in both sexes and in all age groups. Comorbid disorders mediate between suicidality and ADHD.

CONCLUSION

Recognizing ADHD, comorbid conditions and suicidality is important in prevention.