Mediating Effect of Depressive Symptoms on the Relationship between Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Quality of Life

Background Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience obstacles in traditional health care situations due to difficulties associated with their impairment. Objective This controlled study aims to investigate the feasibility of an internet-based support and coaching intervention (IBSC), including 2 weekly chat sessions and 2 complementary clinic visits with coaches over the course of 8 weeks, for adolescents and young adults with ADHD and/or ASD in 2 naturalistic routine care settings. Methods Individuals with ADHD and/or ASD aged 15-32 years were recruited in 2 clinical settings, where they received either IBSC (n=24) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=20). Outcome measures included self-report questionnaires assessing quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment for Quality of Life), sense of coherence (Sense Of Coherence 29), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self-reported, respectively). Results Significant between-group effects were observed in measures of anxiety (HADS) at postintervention (P=.02) as well as at the 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Significant between-group effects were also noted for depressive symptoms (HADS) postintervention (P=.04). The between-group effects were partially explained by a deterioration in the TAU group. A significant increase in self-esteem (P=.04) as well as a decrease in anxiety (P=.003) at the 6-month follow-up was observed in the intervention group following IBSC. Findings from a qualitative study of the intervention are consistent with the results. Conclusions The findings from this study suggest that IBSC holds promise as a feasible complement or alternative to traditional face-to-face health care meetings.

Download Full-text

Internet-Based Support and Coaching With Complementary Clinic Visits for Young People With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism: Controlled Feasibility Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19658 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Helena Sehlin ◽

Britt Hedman Ahlström ◽

Ingrid Bertilsson ◽

Gerhard Andersson ◽

Elisabet Wentz

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Care ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Group Effects

BACKGROUND Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can experience obstacles in traditional health care situations due to difficulties associated with their impairment. OBJECTIVE This controlled study aims to investigate the feasibility of an internet-based support and coaching intervention (IBSC), including 2 weekly chat sessions and 2 complementary clinic visits with coaches over the course of 8 weeks, for adolescents and young adults with ADHD and/or ASD in 2 naturalistic routine care settings. METHODS Individuals with ADHD and/or ASD aged 15-32 years were recruited in 2 clinical settings, where they received either IBSC (n=24) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=20). Outcome measures included self-report questionnaires assessing quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment for Quality of Life), sense of coherence (Sense Of Coherence 29), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self-reported, respectively). RESULTS Significant between-group effects were observed in measures of anxiety (HADS) at postintervention (P=.02) as well as at the 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Significant between-group effects were also noted for depressive symptoms (HADS) postintervention (P=.04). The between-group effects were partially explained by a deterioration in the TAU group. A significant increase in self-esteem (P=.04) as well as a decrease in anxiety (P=.003) at the 6-month follow-up was observed in the intervention group following IBSC. Findings from a qualitative study of the intervention are consistent with the results. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study suggest that IBSC holds promise as a feasible complement or alternative to traditional face-to-face health care meetings.

Download Full-text

Quality of Life: How Do Adolescents with Facial Differences Compare with Other Adolescents?

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal ◽

10.1597/03-097.3.1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 25-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Tari D. Topolski ◽

Todd C. Edwards ◽

Donald L. Patrick

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Mobility Limitations ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Facial Differences ◽

The Relationship

Objective Compare the quality of life (QOL) of youth living with visible facial differences (FDs) with youth living with a visible nonfacial difference (i.e., mobility limitations), an invisible difference (i.e., attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), or no known difference. Design An observational study of perceived QOL among adolescents with FDs (n = 56), adolescents with no diagnosed chronic condition (NCC, n = 116), adolescents with mobility limitations (ML, n = 52), and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n = 68). Participants Adolescents ages 11–18 years with FDs recruited through Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, participated in this study. Comparison groups were from a previous study of QOL among youth with and without chronic conditions. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measure was the Youth Quality of Life Instrument—Research Version, a generic instrument that assesses both perceptual and contextual aspects of QOL in four domains: Sense of Self, Relationships, Environment/Culture, and General Quality of Life. Results A MANCOVA adjusting for age, gender, and depressive symptomatology revealed that adolescents with FDs, on average, reported significantly lower overall QOL than did the NCC group. Their domain scores were similar to those of the other chronic conditions groups on all but the relationship domain. Reviewing the constituent items of the relationship domain revealed that adolescents in the ML and FDs groups reported higher scores than either the NCC group or the ADHD group on the relationship variables concerning family. Conclusions Adolescents with facial differences confront significant challenges to their own self-identity while experiencing higher QOL from relationships, possibly from their need to negotiate and maintain close family support.

Download Full-text