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Childhood hyperactivity and mood problems at mid-life: evidence from a prospective birth cohort

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Childhood hyperactivity leads to mental health problems, but it is not known whether there are long-term risks for adult mood problems in unselected population cohorts that extend to mid-life. Aims were to examine links between childhood hyperactivity and mood problems up to age 50 years and to consider confounding factors and gender differences in associations.

Methods

The National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a UK cohort of children born in 1958. Children with (N = 453) and without (N = 9192) pervasive and persistent hyperactivity were followed to age 50. Adult mood was assessed using the Malaise Inventory at ages 23, 33, 42, and 50 years and the CIS-R interview at 45 years.

Results

Childhood hyperactivity predicted low mood at all adult assessments (ES = 0.27–0.45), including after covariate adjustment (childhood adversity, emotional and behavioural problems, and attainment).

Conclusion

Hyperactivity has enduring risk effects on low mood throughout the life course that extend to middle age.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to the National Child Development Study participants, to the UK data archive for providing access to the anonymised data, and to Olga Eyre for comments on a previous draft of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK

    Jenny Stuart-Smith, Anita Thapar, Ajay Thapar & Stephan Collishaw

  2. MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Barbara Maughan

  3. Taff Riverside Practice, Wellington Street, Cardiff, CF11 9SH, Wales, UK

    Ajay Thapar

Authors
  1. Jenny Stuart-Smith
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  2. Anita Thapar
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  3. Barbara Maughan
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  4. Ajay Thapar
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  5. Stephan Collishaw
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephan Collishaw.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Stuart-Smith, J., Thapar, A., Maughan, B. et al. Childhood hyperactivity and mood problems at mid-life: evidence from a prospective birth cohort. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 87–94 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1285-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1285-5

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