Research shows kids diagnosed with early ADHD have higher chance of developing depression as teens

A recent study by the University of Chicago and the University of Pittsburgh says that children between the ages of 4 and 6 who are diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to suffer from depression and, in rare cases, have suicidal thoughts.

Children who are diagnosed with ADHD often have a hard time focusing and controlling impulsive behaviors and are usually excessively active. These symptoms lead to poor performances in school and difficulty in their social life, ultimately leading to poor self-esteem, experts say.

In the study, researchers followed children who were diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 4 and 6 until they reached the ages of 18 or 20. Experts found that 18 percent said they suffered from depression as a teen. Children with the condition were 10 times more likely to develop depression than those who did not have ADHD, according to analysts.

Furthermore, the study showed that kids with early ADHD are five times more likely to consider suicide at least once in their adolescent years. Programs for troubled youth offer kids who suffer from ADHD activities that could help them develop social skills and promote self-esteem.

A 2006 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4.5 million children in the U.S. between the ages of 5 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.