The Impact of Age and Severity of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Before COVID-19 on the Severity of ADHD During the COVID-19 Lockdowns, as Reported by the Mothers.

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This cohort study aimed to better understand the relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) severity predating the COVID-19 outbreak, in children with ADHD, and the severity of ADHD symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Age and clinical data, including ADHD-Rating Scale scores, of 30 children and adolescents with ADHD, aged 7-18 years, were collected from medical files, for the 6-month period that predated the COVID-19 outbreak. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the children's ADHD severity was evaluated by the mothers using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S). The correlations of CGI-S scores with age and above-mentioned ADHD-Rating Scale scores that were collected before COVID-19 were then assessed. Significant correlation was found between age of participants and CGI-S scores ( P = 0.034). Additionally, participants who continued ADHD pharmacological treatment ( P = 0.02) and used remote clinical treatment ( P = 0.008) demonstrated lower mother reported CGI-S scores. In children with ADHD, younger age, ongoing stimulant-treatment and ongoing remote visits with a caretaker, seem to correlate with lower ADHD-symptom severity during COVID-19 lockdowns.