Childhood hyperactivity and mood problems at mid-life: evidence from a prospective birth cohort.

<bold>Purpose: </bold>Childhood hyperactivity leads to mental health problems, but it is not known whether there are long-term risks for adult mood problems in unselected population cohorts that extend to mid-life. Aims were to examine links between childhood hyperactivity and mood problems up to age 50 years and to consider confounding factors and gender differences in associations.<bold>Methods: </bold>The National Child Development Study (NCDS) is a UK cohort of children born in 1958. Children with (N = 453) and without (N = 9192) pervasive and persistent hyperactivity were followed to age 50. Adult mood was assessed using the Malaise Inventory at ages 23, 33, 42, and 50 years and the CIS-R interview at 45 years.<bold>Results: </bold>Childhood hyperactivity predicted low mood at all adult assessments (ES = 0.27-0.45), including after covariate adjustment (childhood adversity, emotional and behavioural problems, and attainment).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Hyperactivity has enduring risk effects on low mood throughout the life course that extend to middle age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]