James Donaldson on Mental Health – Teenagers with ADHD more likely to self-harm, research shows
by Kate Burke, University of New South Wales
New research has highlighted the higher risk of self-harm and suicide among teenagers with ADHD and the need for better-tailored intervention strategies.
Australian children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to self-harm and exhibit suicidal behavior as teenagers, research shows.
Children diagnosed with ADHD by age 10 have elevated risks of self-harm as well as suicidal thoughts, planning or attempts by age 14, with the association substantially more pronounced for boys than girls.
The study, led by UNSW Sydney and published in the July issue of Psychiatry Research, highlights the mental health hurdles faced by adolescents with ADHD and the need for better-tailored intervention for those with neurodevelopment disorders.
Researchers analyzed the data of almost 3,700 young people who participated in The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, 3.6% (133) of whom had been diagnosed with ADHD.
Although still uncommon, adolescents with childhood ADHD diagnoses were roughly 11-times more likely to report suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts by age 14, compared to their peers. They were about 25 times more likely to self-harm.
UNSW Adjunct Associate Professor and lead study author Dr. Daniel Lin said while the findings were in line with his expectations, the magnitude of the increased likelihood was a surprise.
“What concerned me is that maybe children with ADHD struggle more than we thought … these vulnerable children might need more attention than we anticipated,” Dr. Lin said.
The study was based on self-reporting at the age of 14 of any thoughts or attempts of suicide or self-harm in the previous year and accounted for variables such as socioeconomic status, ADHD medication history and experiences of bullying and depression.
The pathway from ADHD to increased self-harm risk
The researchers put forward that ADHD symptoms may cause depressed mood and exposure to bullying, resulting in psychological distress and behavioral consequences, potentially leading to feelings of defeat or hopelessness. However, they stressed this only accounted for a small part of the increased risk.
“Kids with a diagnosis of ADHD for many, many different reasons, may become depressed later on, maybe because of learning problems at school, maybe because of peer relationships, and their depressed mood will predispose them to increased suicidal ideation in adolescence,” Dr. Lin said.
Previous research has shown those with ADHD were also more likely to have issues with drug abuse, alcoholism and even criminal behavior, without proper treatment, he noted.
Risk greater for boys than girls with ADHD
The higher risk of self-harm and suicidal behavior was more pronounced for boys than girls, which Dr. Lin said could relate to greater impulsivity and poorer judgment among young men.
“Girls with ADHD mostly suffer with symptoms of inattention instead of hyperactivity so one might argue that … it could be hyperactivity instead of hyperattention which is contributing to the higher risk.”
The findings highlighted the need for gender-tailored intervention and prevention strategies, Dr. Lin said, noting that the greater difficulty in diagnosing girls with ADHD could also be affecting the results.
More research on driving factors needed
More research needs to be done on the association between ADHD and self-harm and suicidal behavior, Dr. Lin said. Although there was a possibility of causation, that would be difficult to prove, particularly as there were some genetic risk factors which meant they could co-occur to some degree.
Future research would be key to confirming the link between the two and shedding light on how to improve suicide prevention, Dr. Lin said.
The focus should be on assessing how treatment and the severity of ADHD affected the risk of self-harm and suicidality, then determining what symptoms were driving the increased risk.
“Symptoms of ADHD include impulsivity, attention and cognition issues, difficulty with social communication and more. We need to determine which components are actually driving suicidality, as this has not been properly answered yet.”
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
