Association between quality of life and treatment response in children with attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and their parents.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) lowers the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients and their families. Medication as part of the treatment has a favourable effect on symptoms as well as functioning. Evidence on the impact of pharmacological treatment on symptoms of ADHD and the QoL of the patient and their family is still limited. There is a need for further research on QoL in ADHD as well as the relationship between ADHD and the impact on families rather than solely on patients. AIMS OF THE STUDY: Measure QoL of children with ADHD and their parents and explore the association of QoL with treatment response.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed using an online questionnaire to collect QoL data of children with ADHD (based on proxy reporting of parents) and their parents in a sample of members of an ADHD parent association. QoL was measured by EQ-5D and KIDSCREEN-10. Treatment response was based on descriptions by experts, based on compliance and functioning.
RESULTS: Analyses were based on 618 questionnaires (treatment responder n=428, treatment non-responder n=190). Mean age of the children was 11.8 years (82.4% male). QoL according to EQ-5D utility was 0.83 and 0.74 for responders and non-responders, respectively (p<0.001). For KIDSCREEN-10 the index was 42.24 and 40.33 for responders and non-responders, respectively (p<0.001). EQ-5D utility scores of the parents were 0.83 on average; no association with their child's treatment response could be established. A significant positive correlation between EQ-5D utility of the children and EQ-5D utility of the parents (R2=0.207, p<0.001) was found. The association between treatment response and children's QoL was significantly influenced by age category, having a sibling with ADHD, and presence of comorbidity. DISCUSSION: Strengths of this study are its sample size and the inclusion of QoL of parents, which has not been reported simultaneously before. The facts that data were derived from members of the ADHD parent association, the data for children were based on parents' report, and lack of possibility for confirmation of the clinical diagnosis are the main study limitations. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND USE: QoL of children with ADHD was shown to be significantly positively associated with response to treatment and negatively affected by comorbidity. In determining the treatment effects in ADHD, QoL and family overall well-being should be a standard consideration as well as an integrated part of health policy discussions on ADHD. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICIES: Policymakers in the field of ADHD should focus on QoL of the patient, but also on the broader effects of effective treatment on the well-being of the parents. IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Suggestions for further research include the repetition of this study including a control group and obtaining children's self-report on QoL and clinicians report on diagnosis.