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Child Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Co morbidities on Family Stress: Effect of Medication

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Abstract

We examined the degree of parental and child mental health in a community sample of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and the effect on family stress prior to and during treatment using a community retrospective questionnaire study. In total 358 questionnaires were returned for analysis where 92 % of children had at least one co-morbid condition and mental health conditions in parents was common. Overall, the Family Strain Index was significantly reduced after commencement of medication (p < 0.0001), but remained higher in families where the children had either externalizing disorders or autism spectrum disorder.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the pediatricians who assisted in identifying children on medication to participate in this study. Steve Zubrick, Matt Cooper, Rebecca Glauert and Melinda Berinson who provided valuable input into this project. Special acknowledgement to Fiona Stanley who has been supportive of this project. Finally, thank you to the parents and carers who completed the questionnaire.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Desiree Silva, Peter Jacoby & Carol Bower

  2. School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Desiree Silva

  3. Joondalup Health Campus, Perth, Australia

    Desiree Silva & Brad Jongeling

  4. Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Stephen Houghton

  5. Fremantle Speech Pathology Services, Fremantle, Australia

    Erika Hagemann

  6. Child Development Service, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

    Brad Jongeling

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  1. Desiree Silva
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  2. Stephen Houghton
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  6. Carol Bower
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Correspondence to Desiree Silva.

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Silva, D., Houghton, S., Hagemann, E. et al. Child Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Co morbidities on Family Stress: Effect of Medication. Community Ment Health J 51, 347–353 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9770-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9770-3

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