@article{ref1,
title="Working memory mediates increased negative affect and suicidal ideation in childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder",
journal="Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment",
year="2018",
author="Bauer, Brian W. and Gustafsson, Hanna C. and Nigg, Joel and Karalunas, Sarah L.",
volume="40",
number="2",
pages="180-193",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared to those without ADHD. Increased risk is at least partially attributable to a subset of children with ADHD and comorbid depression or disruptive behavior disorders; however, the early predictors and mechanisms driving increased risk are not well understood. Here, we investigate the contributions of two candidate mechanisms for increased suicidal ideation in children with ADHD: executive function and negative affect. <br><br>METHODS: 623 clinically well-characterized, community-recruited children classified by research criteria as ADHD (n=388) or typically-developing controls (n=253) participated. Parent-report on the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire provided a measure of negative affectivity. Children completed laboratory tasks to measure response inhibition and working memory. Suicidal ideation was evaluated by parent report during a semi-structured interview and child responses on the Children's Depression Inventory. <br><br>RESULTS: Compared to typically developing controls, children with ADHD had higher rates of suicidal ideation, more negative affect, slower stop signal reaction times, and weaker working memory. Statistical path-model analyses confirmed the hypothesis that weaker working memory in ADHD statistically mediated increased negative affect. Weaker working memory also mediated and increased suicidal ideation in these cross sectional data. <br><br>FINDINGS were not attributable to comorbid disruptive behavioral disorders. Poor response inhibition did not reliably mediate negative affect or suicidal ideation. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Impairment in working memory is an important early risk factor for suicidal ideation in children with ADHD, and may help in identifying children for prevention and early intervention efforts.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0882-2689",
doi="10.1007/s10862-017-9635-5",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10862-017-9635-5"
}