Aims: To investigate the relationship between ADHD and self-harm, in order to see if self-harm can be considered to be a risk factor, and to explore any possible gender effects.

Hypothesis: That self-harm will be more prevalent in individuals with ADHD, particularly in females with ADHD, compared to controls with ADHD.

Method

We propose to obtain participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) which is an ongoing population-based study investigating a wide range of environmental and other influences on the health and development of children. Of the core cohort of 13,988 infants, 10% were randomly selected to be examined in more detail encompassing 10 examinations between 4 months and 5 years - the Children in Focus (CiF) clinics.

Outcome Variables

Diagnostic information (ADHD diagnosis) will be derived from the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA) which was administered to all children remaining in the CiF cohort at 91 months of age (7 years 9 months). All children who were given a diagnosis of ADHD using the DAWBA will be included in the clinical experimental group (currently unknown figure). There will be a sex and age-matched control group. The number in this control group will be twice the amount in the clinical/experimental group.

We are interested in seeking data on self harm in the questionnaire at 16 years 6 months for all individuals that we have DAWBA information on (Section L: Deliberate self-harm, p. 39-43). Can be downloaded from the ALSPAC site: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/researchers/resources-available/data-det...

Confounding Variables

Associations between diagnosis of ADHD as a predictor for self-harm will be calculated using Chi square analysis. We will control for potential confounders in a logistical regression analysis exploring ADHD and self-harm: presence of learning difficulties and behavioural problems (DSM-IV items on Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD); anxiety, social class (of parents); gender and substance abuse. Both ODD and learning difficulties will be evaluated since both have significant impact on functioning and frequently co-occur with ADHD, however they are relatively unexplored as a potential confounding factor in ADHD studies.