If their parents are depressed or if they have parents with bi-polar disorder, the risk increases.
Depression is episodic, and ranges on a continuum from mild to severe.
These symptoms affect both behavior and emotion. There is a biological difference in each of us, and some of us are more resilient than others. Thus when ADHD is diagnosed, it is important to consider the possibility of co-existing depression. Causes are also suspected to include living with a depressed parent, a parent's lack of availability, and the modelling of depressed behaviors by depressed parents. Children also learn helplessness, leading them to view their lives as uncontrollable and beyond their capabilities.