Psychiatry Research EG

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood-onset psychiatric disorders. It is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD can affect the social, cognitive, and academic performance of the child. Mothers of ADHD children tend to experience more stress, social isolation, self-blame, and depression. Aim The aim of this study was to identify the spread of depression in a sample of mothers with children having ADHD who were being followed up at the outpatient clinic of Abha Psychiatric Hospital. Patients and methods Sixty biological mothers of children with ADHD were incluced in this study. Each mother was evaluated for the presence of a major depressive disorder using the Beck Depression Inventory scale. A control group of 60 mothers of children without any psychiatric disorder or chronic medical condition was also included. Results On the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V criteria, about 41.6% of mothers with ADHD children were found to be depressed. Conclusion An overall 41.6% of mothers of ADHD children had major depressive disorder, suggesting that routine screening for maternal depression needs to be considered when children are diagnosed with ADHD.