[Children's and adolescents' perception of their quality of life in cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without pharmacological treatment and in controls].

INTRODUCTION

Health-related quality of life perceived by children and teenagers is important to assess the effects of therapeutic intervention.

AIM

To analyze quality of life, comparing cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treated with methylphenidate, untreated cases and controls.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sampling of 228 participants between 8 and 14 years-old. Consecutive sampling in ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria (ADHD Rating Scales IV) and random sampling of matched controls by sex and age. Evaluation of quality of life using KIDSCREEN-52 (children version). ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was used.

RESULTS

There is a moderate significant correlation between greater intensity of ADHD symptoms and worse quality of life, except in the dimension of physical well-being. Cases of untreated ADHD have significantly worse quality of life than controls on psychic well-being, mood, autonomy school environment and social acceptance. Cases of treated ADHD present similar results, except in the school environment and psychological well-being. The cases of ADHD treated only differ significantly from ADHD not treated in having a better school environment.

CONCLUSIONS

The cases of ADHD present dimensions of KIDSCREEN-52 with worse quality of life than controls and the cases of ADHD treated with methylphenidate only differ significantly from those not treated in presenting better results in the school environment.