CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Child Science 2020; 10(01): e163-e168
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1717104
Original Article

Effect of Demographic Factors on Quality of Life in Children with ADHD under Atomoxetine Treatment: 1-Year Follow-up

Moustafa M. Ragab
1   Public Health Department, Institute of Environmental Studies and Researches, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
,
Ehab M. Eid
2   Public Health Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
,
Nahla H. Badr
2   Public Health Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

Abstract

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. Symptoms of ADHD and its treatment can impact an individual's quality of life (QoL). The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of atomoxetine treatment, demographic characteristics, and seasonal variation on QoL in children with a recent diagnosis of ADHD and their parents. The present study included a cohort of 200 children diagnosed with ADHD. In addition to the recruited children, one of their parents was included in the study. ADHD symptoms were assessed using Conners' Parent Rating Scale. QoL of the participants was assessed with the PedsQL, while parents' QoL was evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref). There was significant improvement in pediatric and parental QoL after treatment with atomoxetine. Significant factors related to better QoL in the participants included spring season, above average Conner's score, male sex, and rural residence. However, after using multivariate regression analysis, only patients' sex and Conner's score were significant predictors of pediatric QoL at the end of treatment with atomoxetine. Medical treatment significantly improved QoL in children with ADHD and their parents. Level of improvement was affected by patients' sex and ADHD severity.



Publication History

Received: 27 February 2020

Accepted: 20 August 2020

Article published online:
27 October 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 
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