Executive function in depression

Conduct disorder, ADHD, and anxiety disorder” (Sigelman & Rider, p. 482) are often comorbid with depression in children, showing an overlap between depression and ADHD in children.  In my writing about ADHD in children (van Vlaanderen, 2010), I describe evidence of an executive function (EF) component to ADHD, and James (2008) supports an EF component for depression because depressive hyper-activity occurs in the executive function regions.  He promotes the idea that EFs for the depressed can be enhanced with CBT in ways that are similar to my speculation that EF functioning can be enhanced for children with ADHD through psychoeducation. 

In depressed adults, James finds "rigid and concrete thinking, attentional problems" and "memory difficulties" (p. 10) associated with executive function deficit (EFD).  In adults with ADHD who had it as children, Barkley (2004) shows socialization problems that are similar to conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) such as arrests and other anti-social behaviors, and Clark (2002) confirms that socialization problems are related to EFD in ADHD-affected children--even for children not diagnosed with CD or ODD.

Speculating along these lines, psychoeducational and -therapeutic strategies may be developed to help with depression (and adult ADHD) that will focus directly on EFD and can be evaluated by their efficacy with respect to EF.  With time, EF monitoring and imaging will improve, perhaps to the point where it can be part of individual evaluation.

References
Barkley, R., Fischer, M., Smallish, L., & Fletcher, K. (2004). Young adult follow-up of hyperactive children: antisocial activities and drug use. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 45(2), 195-211. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00214.x.

Clark, C., Prior, M., & Kinsella, G. (2002). The Relationship Between Executive Function Abilities, Adaptive Behaviour, and Academic Achievement in Children with Externalising Behaviour Problems. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines, 43(6), 785-796. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

James, I., Reichelt, F., Carlsonn, P., & McAnaney, A. (2008). Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Executive Functioning in Depression. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 22(3), 210-218. doi:10.1891/0889-8391.22.3.210.

Mckinley, C., (2010). The Treatment of Depression in Children. Retrieved October 19, 2010 from http://campus.yorkvilleu.ca/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=87127&parent=556350
http://campus.yorkvilleu.ca/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=87127&parent=556350

Sigelman, C.K., & Rider, E.A. (2009). Life-Span Human Development, 6th edition . Thomson Wadsworth.

van Vlaanderen, J., (2010). Executive function, working memory control, and ADHD. Retrieved October 19, 2010 from http://campus.yorkvilleu.ca/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=85380&parent=544331