Investigating the Mediating Role of Executive Function in the Relationship Between ADHD and DCD Symptoms and Depression in Adults

Maria C Broletti; Christina Efthymiou; Aja Louise Murray; Emily McDougal; Sinéad M Rhodes

doi:10.1007/s10803-023-06148-7

Investigating the Mediating Role of Executive Function in the Relationship Between ADHD and DCD Symptoms and Depression in Adults

J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06148-7. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Maria C Broletti¹, Christina Efthymiou¹, Aja Louise Murray¹, Emily McDougal^{2

3}, Sinéad M Rhodes⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
² Child Life and Health/Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, EH16 4TS, UK.
³ Evidence Based Practice Unit, Anna Freud and University College London, London, UK.
⁴ Child Life and Health/Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, EH16 4TS, UK. sinead.rhodes@ed.ac.uk.

PMID: 37966535
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06148-7

Abstract

This study was designed to test the effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) on depression levels and investigate the mediating role of executive function (EF) in adults. Adults with ADHD, DCD, and ADHD + DCD (N = 139) completed self-report measures of ADHD, DCD, depression, and EF. There were distinct profiles of EF across diagnostic groups, and higher depression symptoms in adults with ADHD + DCD than DCD alone. All EF domains were predicted by ADHD symptoms, and several by DCD symptoms. ADHD and DCD symptoms, and most EF domains, predicted depression symptoms. Overall EF difficulties fully mediated the relationships between ADHD/DCD and depression symptoms. Several specific EF domains relating to behavioural regulation and metacognition also showed full/partial mediating effects. The mediating role of EF difficulties between these neurodevelopmental conditions and depression symptoms has implications for their understanding and treatment, suggesting that targeting EF may be important for preventing co-occurring depression.

Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Depression; Developmental co-ordination disorder; Dyspraxia; Executive function.