The burdened life of adults with ADHD: Impairment beyond comorbidity

AbstractSince approximately 70% of adult patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have at least one comorbid disorder, rating of impairment specifically attributable to ADHD is a hard task. Despite the evidence linking environmental adversities with negative outcomes in ADHD, life events measures have not been used to rate the disorder impairment. The present study tested for the first time the hypothesis that increased ADHD severity is associated with an increase in negative recent life events, independently of comorbidity status. The psychiatric diagnoses of 211 adult ADHD outpatients were based on DSM-IV criteria assessed through structured interviews (K-SADS-E for ADHD and ODD, MINI for ASPD and SCID-IV-R for other comorbidities). ADHD severity was evaluated with the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham rating scale (SNAP-IV) and recent life events with the Life Experience Survey. Higher SNAP-IV inattention and hyperactivity scores, female gender, lower socioeconomic status and the presence of comorbid mood disorders were associated with negative life events. Poisson regression models with adjustment for possible confounders confirmed the effect of inattention and hyperactivity severity on negative life events. Our results suggest that the negative life events experienced by these patients are associated to the severity of ADHD independently from comorbid psychiatric disorders.

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Association between Negative Life Events on Mental Health and College Student Adjustment: A Mediated Moderating Effect

Journal of Healthcare Engineering ◽

10.1155/2021/4457222 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Liu Cao

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

College Students ◽

College Student ◽

Life Events ◽

Grade Level ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Student Adjustment ◽

College Student Adjustment ◽

The Relationship

Objective: To explore the association between negative life events and college student adjustment and to explore the mediating and moderating effects of social support and grade level in the relationship between the two. Methods. The research was conducted with 1717 college students using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC), China College Student Adjustment Scale (CCSAS), and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Results. (1) Negative life events were significantly negative in correlation with adjustment and social support (r = −0.373, −0.174, Ps < 0.001), while social support was significantly positive in correlation with adjustment (r = 0.359, P < 0.001 ). (2) The main effects of negative life events, social support, and grade on adjustment were significant (effect = −0.190, P < 0.001 , 95% CI [−0.288∼−0.092]; effect = 0.307, P < 0.001 , 95% CI [0.265∼0.348]; effect = 0.163, P < 0.001 , 95% CI [0.126∼0.200]). (3) In the relationship between negative life events and adjustment, social support played a mediating role (effect = −0.054, 95% CI [−0.071∼−0.037]) and grade level played a moderating role (effect = −0.049, P = 0.009 , 95% CI [−0.085∼−0.012]). Conclusion. Negative life events, social support, and grade level affected college student adjustment, and social support networks for college students should be actively constructed and targeted education should be conducted according to different grade levels, which can promote college student adjustment.

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Association between alcohol abuse, childhood adverse events and suicide

Slovenian Medical Journal ◽

10.6016/zdravvestn.1510 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 86 (9-10) ◽

Author(s):

Vida Ana Politakis ◽

Peter Pregelj ◽

Alja Videtič Paska ◽

Tomaž Zupanc

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Life Events ◽

Suicidal Behaviour ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Population Data ◽

Stressful Event ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Support Person ◽

Slovenian Population

Background: Negative life events present a risk for suicidal behaviour. The occurrence of suicidal behaviour also depends on type of negative life events, time of their appearance and the support person has in their environment, and can be part of a process triggered by a stressful event. the aim of the study was to investigate adverse childhood events, parental alcoholism and alcohol abuse in association with suicidal behaviour of suicide victims.Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 90 individuals from Slovenian population who committed suicide and 90 age-sex matched controls drawn from the living population. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with key informants by the principles of psychological autopsy.Results: Alcohol abuse was reported more ofen for suicide victims than for controls. The same was true for severe deprivation in childhood and alcoholism of one or both parents. Diﬀerences between groups in separation from one or both parents, death of one or both parents, reported parental divorce in childhood or sexual abuse in childhood were not observed.Conclusions: We should conclude that negative events in childhood and alcohol abuse in adulthood of suicide victims could be related to suicidal behaviour in population with higher suicide rate. When planning measures for the prevention of suicidal behaviour, adverse events in childhood and alcohol abuse should not be neglected to plan measures to prevent such events accordingly and to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse for suicidal behaviour.

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Life Events in Borderline Personality Disorder

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674379303801003 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 38 (10) ◽

pp. 638-640 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Edith Labonte ◽

Joel Paris

Keyword(s):

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Life Events ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Life Experience ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Experience Survey ◽

Life Experience Survey

In order to examine the role of life events in the clinical presentation of borderline personality disorder, the Life Experience Survey was given to three groups of subjects; one consisting of patients suffering from borderline personality disorder and two consisting of control subjects for the purpose of comparison. The results showed that patients suffering from borderline personality disorder did not experience a greater number of life events, but those life events that they did report were related to their psycho-pathology, which were, in turn, associated with the break-ups of important relationships or with effects of impulsive actions.

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Symptoms Versus Impairment in Adults With ADHD: Intercorrelations of the BRIEF-A, CAARS, and TOVA

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054716682334 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (13) ◽

pp. 1557-1566 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Joseph Ben-Sheetrit ◽

Mika Zurawel ◽

Abraham Weizman ◽

Iris Manor

Keyword(s):

Executive Function ◽

Adult Adhd ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Randomized Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Behavior Rating ◽

Behavioral Regulation ◽

Behavior Rating Inventory ◽

Inattention And Hyperactivity

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the connections within and between three measures of adult ADHD: the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Adult Version (BRIEF-A)–Self-Report, Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale–Investigator-Rated (CAARS-Inv), and Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA). Method: Data of 89 adults with ADHD (ages = 18-54, 46% females) who were assessed using these measures during pretreatment visits of a randomized study of metadoxine XR were analyzed. Results: The CAARS-Inv and TOVA did not correlate. The BRIEF-A correlated extensively with both the CAARS-Inv and TOVA, primarily via its Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI). The BRIEF-A Metacognition Index correlated with the CAARS-Inv inattentive score, while the BRI correlated with the CAARS-Inv hyperactive-impulsive score. Within the CAARS and TOVA, inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity correlated weakly. Conclusion: The measures seem to capture different aspects of adult ADHD. While the CAARS-Inv addresses mainly the domain of symptoms, and the TOVA that of impairment, the BRIEF-A captures aspects of both.

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Negative Life Stress and Anxiety: Problem Solving as a Moderator Variable

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1986.58.1.279 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 279-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Arthur. M. Nezu

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Life Events ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Life Stress ◽

Life Experience ◽

Social Problem Solving ◽

Moderator Variable ◽

Positive Life Events ◽

Experience Survey ◽

Life Experience Survey

The present study evaluated the moderating role that social problem solving would serve in relation to negative life stress and both state and trait anxiety. 310 university students completed the Life Experience Survey, the Problem Solving Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multiple regression analyses supported problem solving as a moderator variable and confirmed previous research in which a significant relationship was obtained between negative life events and anxiety. Also neither state nor trait anxiety was related to positive life events.

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Negative Life Events, Social Support, and Self-Efficacy in Anxious Adolescents

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294117699820 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 120 (4) ◽

pp. 609-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Solfrid Raknes ◽

Ståle Pallesen ◽

Jon Fauskanger Bjaastad ◽

Gro Janne Wergeland ◽

Asle Hoffart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Life Events ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Elevated Level ◽

School Health ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Community Sample ◽

Female Gender ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Purpose To examine the prevalence and correlates of anxiety in a community sample of adolescents. Knowing the prevalence and characteristics of anxious adolescents is valuable to improve anxiety prevention strategies and interventions. Design Cross-sectional data about anxiety were collected via a school survey from a community sample of Norwegian adolescents aged 12–17 ( N = 1719). Methods Based on scores from the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, the adolescents were categorized as not anxious or anxious. Logistic regression analysis was performed to access the impact of each factor on the likelihood that participants would report an elevated level of anxiety. Results A total of 22% of the adolescents were categorized as anxious. Female gender, experienced negative life events, low social support, and low self-efficacy were associated with elevated level of anxiety. Conclusions The high prevalence of anxiety in adolescents demonstrates the importance of improved prevention interventions targeting anxious adolescents. We argue that addressing is the responsibility of not only the individual adolescents and their families but also schools, school health services, and policy makers. School-based interventions that increase social support and self-efficacy would probably be particularly beneficial for anxious adolescents.

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The Association Between Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity-Related Outcomes, and ADHD in Adults With Comorbid Affective Disorders

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054716659137 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 460-471 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Dora Wynchank ◽

Denise Bijlenga ◽

Femke Lamers ◽

J. J. Sandra Kooij ◽

Tannetje I. Bron ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Affective Disorders ◽

Adult Adhd ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Metabolic Syndrome Component ◽

Multivariable Analyses ◽

Comorbid Adhd ◽

Inattention And Hyperactivity

Objective: ADHD may predispose to obesity, a metabolic syndrome component. Affective disorders are also associated with MetSyn and ADHD. This study examined whether ADHD confers any added risk of MetSyn and obesity-related associations in a large sample with varying stages of affective disorders. Method: Participants included 2,303 adults from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Three groups were compared (controls, those with depressive/anxiety disorders without ADHD; and those with depressive/anxiety disorders and ADHD) for presence of MetSyn risk factors, body mass index, and waist–hip ratio. ADHD symptoms were identified by using a T-score > 65 (Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale). Results: Multivariable analyses were additionally adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, health factors, and affective disorders. Analyses showed no significant association between MetSyn, obesity-related variables, and comorbid ADHD. High Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptoms were not associated with MetSyn. Conclusion: This study did not confirm that MetSyn and obesity-related parameters are increased in comorbid ADHD.

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Negative Life Events Associated With Deliberate Self-Harm in an African Population in Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910.26.1.4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 4-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

E. Kinyanda ◽

H. Hjelmeland ◽

S. Musisi

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Negative Life Events ◽

Life Time ◽

Later Life ◽

Dose Effect ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Time Period ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Self Harm ◽

Suicide Interventions

Abstract. Negative life events associated with deliberate self-harm (DSH) were investigated in an African context in Uganda. Patients admitted at three general hospitals in Kampala, Uganda were interviewed using a Luganda version (predominant language in the study area) of the European Parasuicide Study Interview Schedule I. The results of the life events and histories module are reported in this paper. The categories of negative life events in childhood that were significantly associated with DSH included those related to parents, significant others, personal events, and the total negative life events load in childhood. For the later-life time period, the negative life events load in the partner category and the total negative life events in this time period were associated with DSH. In the last-year time period, the negative life events load related to personal events and the total number of negative life events in this time period were associated with DSH. A statistically significant difference between the cases and controls for the total number of negative life events reported over the entire lifetime of the respondents was also observed, which suggests a dose effect of negative life events on DSH. Gender differences were also observed among the cases. In conclusion, life events appear to be an important factor in DSH in this cultural environment. The implication of these results for treatment and the future development of suicide interventions in this country are discussed.

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