The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown significantly impacted most of the global population, specifically children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers recently published their findings in Psychiatry Research.

“The interruption of social relationships, a reduction of physical activities as well as the academic and normal working activities, has caused important disruptions for family routines, with alteration of circadian rhythm and eating habits in all the countries affected by Covid-19,” pens researchers Melegari et al.

This anonymous web-based survey study encompassed responses from 992 parents of 528 children (aged 5-11) and 464 adolescents (aged 12-17) with ADHD to examine the effects of the lockdown on different ADHD severity levels and to indicate which patients were most vulnerable to the isolation-inducing quarantine.

The survey comprised a questionnaire relating to 11 of the most common negative emotional and mood states, including sadness, boredom, little enjoyment/interest, irritability, temper tantrums, and anxiety, as well as disruptive behavioral problems, such as verbal and physical aggression, argument, disobedience/opposition, and restlessness.

Pandemic’s Impacts on Pediatric ADHD Varies Depending on Disorder Severity

Parents were asked to rate the severity of these 11 items as it related to the frequency their child exhibited these psychological and physical behaviors, with designators of low degree (1-2 times/wk), moderate degree (3-4 times/wk), and severe degree (5-7 times/wk).

During the lockdown period, the researchers found the following results:

• Low severity degree: there was a significant decrease in mood and behavioral issues during the lockdown, apart from little enjoyment/interest in children and physical aggression in adolescents.

• Moderate severity degree: there was an increase in boredom frequency, temper tantrums, and little enjoyment/interest in both age groups; children also showed an increase in sadness, and physical aggression was increased in adolescents.

• High severity degree: children were found to have an increase in almost all 11 items, aside from restlessness and opposition; adolescents had an increase in boredom, temper tantrums, little enjoyment/interest, and argument.

“Future extensions of the present study will allow to uncover the relationships with acute stress symptoms, with the comorbidity profiles of the ADHD patients, as well strategies adopted by parents to manage the child-adolescent’s problems,” researchers conclude.

Reference

Melegari MG, Giallonardo M, Sacco R, Marcucci L, Orecchio S, Bruni O. Identifying the impact of the confinement of Covid-19 on emotional-mood and behavioural dimensions in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Psychiatry Res. 2021;296:113692.