Perceived stress partially accounts for the association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and suicidal ideation among students

Antoine Gbessemehlan; Julie Arsandaux; Massimiliano Orri; Ilaria Montagni; Melissa Macalli; Marie Tournier; Christophe Tzourio; Cédric Galéra

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113284

Perceived stress partially accounts for the association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and suicidal ideation among students

Psychiatry Res. 2020 Sep:291:113284. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113284. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Authors

Antoine Gbessemehlan¹, Julie Arsandaux¹, Massimiliano Orri², Ilaria Montagni¹, Melissa Macalli¹, Marie Tournier³, Christophe Tzourio¹, Cédric Galéra⁴

Affiliations

¹ Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, INSERM UMR1219, Team HEALTHY, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
² Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, INSERM UMR1219, Team HEALTHY, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France; McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institure, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
³ Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, INSERM UMR1219, Team HEALTHY, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Charles Perrens Hospital, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
⁴ Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, INSERM UMR1219, Team HEALTHY, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Charles Perrens Hospital, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: cedric.galera@u-bordeaux.fr.

PMID: 32763545
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113284

Abstract

The association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and suicidal ideation has been the focus of recent research interest among youths and young adults. However, the role perceived stress plays in this association is unclear. We investigated whether perceived stress accounts for the association between ADHD and subsequent suicidal ideation among French students enrolled in the i-Share cohort. The associations between ADHD symptoms, perceived stress at baseline, and suicidal ideation during follow-up were investigated using logistic regression models, and Structural Equation Modeling was used to estimate the indirect effect via perceived stress. In total 4333 participants (median age: 20.3 years; [interquartile range: 18.7-21.8]) were included in the main analyses. ADHD was associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.15 [95% Confidence Interval: 1.04-1.26]). Perceived stress partially accounts for the association between ADHD and suicidal ideation (proportion explained 49%). Our study suggests that ADHD and perceived stress represent mental health targets for suicide prevention programs.

Keywords: ADHD; Cohort study; Path analysis; Perceived stress; Students; Suicidal ideation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
Cohort Studies
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology*
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Students / psychology*
Suicidal Ideation*
Suicide / psychology
Suicide / trends
Suicide, Attempted / psychology
Suicide, Attempted / trends
Young Adult