A Pilot Controlled Family Study of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD in African-American Children

BackgroundVery little is known about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in African-American children, and although the familial transmission of ADHD has been well established in white samples, prior work has not evaluated this feature of ADHD in African-American families.MethodSubjects were 37 first-degree relatives of children with DSM-III-R-defined ADHD and 52 first-degree relatives of non-ADHD comparison children matched for ethnicity, age, and gender. DSM-III-R-based structured interviews (modified to include DSM-IV diagnoses) provided the basis for psychiatric diagnoses in relatives.ResultsThe risks for both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD were significantly greater in first-degree relatives of ADHD probands than in relatives of controls. In addition, the relatives of ADHD probands also were at higher risk for oppositional defiant disorder, antisocial personality disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety, and substance use disorders.ConclusionsThese results suggest that ADHD and related disorders are familial in African-Americans. Further work is needed to confirm the familial transmission of ADHD in African-American children and to explore the role of genetics as well as environmental factors in the transmission of the disorder. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(1):034–39.     

Parenting Practices and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: New Findings Suggest Partial Specificity of Effects

ObjectiveExamine the relations of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and symptom domains with parenting practices.MethodOne hundred eighty-one children (ages 6–12 years) were assessed for ADHD and non-ADHD status via parent semistructured clinical interview (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV) and parent and teacher standardized ratings. They included controls (n = 52), ADHD Inattentive type (n = 24), and ADHD Combined type (n = 71) as well as “not otherwise specified” cases (included in regressions only). Parents completed the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire and a structured interview (the Diagnostic Interview Schedule-IV) about their own ADHD symptoms. Symptom counts were created for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), inattention, and hyperactivity–impulsivity to complement categorical analyses.ResultsIn categorical analysis, maternal inconsistent discipline was associated with ADHD Combined type, even with child ODD and CD diagnosis and parent ADHD symptoms statistically controlled. Paternal low involvement was associated with ADHD regardless of subtype, even with ODD and CD covaried; however, the effect was marginal when paternal ADHD was covaried. In dimensional analysis of symptom counts, maternal inconsistent discipline was related to all behavior domains but none uniquely. Paternal low involvement and inconsistent discipline were related uniquely with child inattention and not other behavioral domains.ConclusionsSpecific aspects of parenting are related to ADHD apart from ODD or CD and are not fully attributable to parental ADHD.     

Depression in men in the postnatal period and later child psychopathology: a population cohort study

ObjectivePostnatal depression in women is associated with adverse effects on both maternal health and children's development. It is unclear whether depression in men at this time poses comparable risks. The present study set out to assess the association between depression in men in the postnatal period and later psychiatric disorders in their children and to investigate predisposing factors for depression in men following childbirth.MethodA population-based cohort of 10,975 fathers and their children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) was recruited in the prenatal period and followed for 7 years. Paternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and later child psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV) with the Development and Well-Being Assessment.ResultsDepression in fathers in the postnatal period was significantly associated with psychiatric disorder in their children 7 years later (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.07-2.77), most notably oppositional defiant/conduct disorders (adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.04-3.61), after adjusting for maternal depression and paternal educational level. A history of severe depression and high prenatal symptom scores for depression and anxiety were the strongest predictors of paternal depression in the postnatal period.ConclusionsDepression in fathers in the postnatal period is associated with later psychiatric disorders in their children, independently of maternal postnatal depression. Further research into the risks associated with paternal psychopathology is required because this could represent an important opportunity for public health intervention.     

DSM-IV and ICD-10: A Comparison of the Correlates of ADHD and Hyperkinetic Disorder

ObjectiveTo examine directly the extent to which ICD-10 hyperkinetic disorder and DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) identify the same children with the same difficulties.MethodParticipants were children referred for symptoms of overactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, and a normal control group. Diagnostic criteria for ICD-10 hyperkinetic disorder and DSM-IV ADHD were applied retrospectively. Four groups were identified: hyperkinetic disorder and ADHD (n = 21), ADHD only (n = 22), clinic control (n = 15), and normal control (n = 19). The groups were compared on measures reflecting the central characteristics of ADHD, neurodevelopmental functioning, academic and cognitive functioning, and the presence of conduct problems.ResultsThere is some evidence of increased symptom severity in the combined diagnostic group. Few differences emerged on measures of neurodevelopmental, academic, and cognitive functioning. Rates of conduct disturbance were similar in both ADHD groups.ConclusionsDSM-IV criteria identify a broader group of children than those identified by ICD-10. However, there is substantial overlap between the groups formed with these different criteria.     

Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample

ObjectiveAutism spectrum disorders are now recognized to occur in up to 1% of the population and to be a major public health concern because of their early onset, lifelong persistence, and high levels of associated impairment. Little is known about the associated psychiatric disorders that may contribute to impairment. We identify the rates and type of psychiatric comorbidity associated with ASDs and explore the associations with variables identified as risk factors for child psychiatric disorders.MethodA subgroup of 112 ten- to 14-year old children from a population-derived cohort was assessed for other child psychiatric disorders (3 months' prevalence) through parent interview using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment. DSM-IV diagnoses for childhood anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, trichotillomania, enuresis, and encopresis were identified.ResultsSeventy percent of participants had at least one comorbid disorder and 41% had two or more. The most common diagnoses were social anxiety disorder (29.2%, 95% confidence interval [Cl)] 13.2-45.1), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (28.2%, 95% Cl 13.3-43.0), and oppositional defiant disorder (28.1 %, 95% Cl 13.9-42.2). Of those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 84% received a second comorbid diagnosis. There were few associations between putative risk factors and psychiatric disorder.ConclusionsPsychiatric disorders are common and frequently multiple in children with autism spectrum disorders. They may provide targets for intervention and should be routinely evaluated in the clinical assessment of this group. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2008;47(8):921-929.     

Ages of onset and rates of syndromal and subsyndromal comorbid DSM-IV diagnoses in a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype

OBJECTIVE: To study rates and ages of onset of DSM-IV syndromal and subsyndromal comorbidity in a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype (PEA-BP) (N = 93) compared to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (N = 81). METHOD: The WASH-U-KSADS was given by raters blinded to subject group separately to mothers about their children and to children about themselves. PEA-BP was defined as DSM-IV mania with at least one cardinal symptom of mania (elation or grandiosity) to avoid diagnosing using only symptoms that overlapped with those for ADHD. Syndromal diagnoses required a CGAS score of 60 or less to ensure severity at a level of definite "caseness." RESULTS: PEA-BP subjects were aged 10.9 (SD = 2.6) at baseline and 6.8 (SD = 3.4) at onset of first mania episode. Rates of oppositional defiant disorder and total number of comorbidities were significantly higher in the PEA-BP group than the ADHD group. In PEA-BP subjects, mean ages of onset of ADHD occurred before the first manic episode, and obsessive compulsive, oppositional defiant, social phobia, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and conduct disorders occurred after. CONCLUSIONS: Onsets of ADHD before mania and of oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder after mania have clinical and research implications. These include the need to examine for mania symptoms in children with ADHD and/or oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder and to develop scales to differentiate preschool mania from ADHD. Comparison with other studies demonstrated the importance of DSM system and severity scales in reporting comorbidity rates.     

Child temperament,ADHD, and caregiver strain: exploring relationships in an epidemiological sample

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between child-reported dimensions of temperament and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as other indicators of child psychopathology, including disruptive disorders, depression, and anxiety. It also examined whether difficult child temperament scores independently predicted caregiver strain. METHOD: A school-district-wide, two-phase screening design (response rate 70% for phase 2) identified elementary school children at high risk for ADHD. Two hundred high-risk children and their parents completed standardized instruments to assess child temperament, diagnoses of disruptive disorders, children's symptoms of anxiety and depression, and caregiver strain. Relationships were examined using analysis of variance, correlations, and multivariate prediction models, adjusting for child sociodemographic characteristics and psychopathology. All estimates were weighted for sampling design and differential participation. RESULTS: Combined subtype ADHD was associated with lower scores on task orientation and higher scores on general activity level. Depressive symptoms correlated significantly with all but one difficult temperament dimension, in a pattern consistent with clinical symptoms of depression. Child temperament did not vary by ADHD treatment status. Among these high-risk children, maternal caregiver strain experiences were increased by male gender, inattention symptoms, and oppositional defiant disorder, but not by difficult temperament scores. CONCLUSION: This study provides support for Graham and Stevenson's hypothesis of continuity between specific temperament traits and certain child psychiatric disorders, namely ADHD and depressive disorders.     

A systematic evaluation of ADHD and comorbid psychopathology in a population-based twin sample

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and population samples demonstrate that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs with other disorders. Comorbid disorder clustering within ADHD subtypes is not well studied. METHOD: Latent class analysis (LCA) examined the co-occurrence of DSM-IV ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and depression symptoms in a population twin sample. The authors fit separate models for ADHD and comorbid disorder symptoms. Twin concordance ratios (monozygotic versus dizygotic) were compared examining genetic influence on class membership. RESULTS: LCA of ADHD symptoms resulted in seven classes including inattentive, combined, and hyperactive subtypes in 1,616 subjects. The few ADHD symptoms (53.4%) and severe inattentive (12.3%) classes were most frequent. LCA of ODD, CD, and depression symptoms in 1,587 subjects revealed five classes including ODD (19.4%), depression (14.5%), and two composite classes: ODD/CD (6.9%) and ODD/CD/depression (7.2%). Internalizing and externalizing comorbid disorders were present across all ADHD subtypes. Odds ratios (ORs) for twin concordance indicate genetic influence on severe inattentive (OR = 4.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-11.53) and combined (OR = 5.25; 95% CI, 1.32-20.78) ADHD classes and ODD (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 0.70-3.17), ODD/CD (OR = 3.32; 95% CI, 0.57-19.28), and ODD/CD/depression (OR = 1.20; 95% CI, 0.30-4.77) classes. CONCLUSIONS: Internalizing and externalizing disorders did not cluster differentially within ADHD subtypes. LCA may provide a more precise characterization of comorbidity with ADHD.     

Predicting Depression and Anxiety from Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms in Elementary School-Age Girls and Boys with Conduct Problems

This study investigated the relationship between the three DSM-5 categories of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms (irritable mood, defiant behavior, vindictive behavior) and anxiety/depression in girls and boys with conduct problems (CP) while controlling for comorbid child psychopathology at baseline. Data were drawn from an ongoing longitudinal study of 6- to 9-year-old French-Canadian children (N = 276; 40.8 % girls) receiving special educational services for CP at school and followed for 2 years. Using linear regression analysis, the results showed that irritable mood symptoms predicted a higher level of depression and anxiety in girls and boys 2 years later, whereas the behavioral symptoms of ODD (e.g., defiant, vindictive symptoms) were linked to lower depression scores. The contribution of ODD symptoms to these predictions, while statistically significant, remained modest. The usefulness of ODD irritable symptoms as a marker for identifying girls and boys with CP who are more vulnerable to developing internalizing problems is discussed.     

Experimental Cross-Validation of DSM-IV Types of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ObjectiveTo examine the discriminant validity of DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) types by testing the hypothesis that types are associated with specific kinds of functional impairment and to compare overlap of DSM-IV and DSM-III-R ADHD.MethodConsecutive referrals (n = 692) to a pediatric subspecialty clinic for ADHD were classified into 1 of each of the 3 DSM-IV types of ADHD using parent and teacher checklist ratings of ADHD symptoms. The resulting types were compared on clinical correlates and on whether the children also met criteria for DSM-III-R ADHD.ResultsThe validity of DSM-IV types was supported by dimension-specific impairment and other distinct correlates. Academic problems aggregated in the 2 types defined by extreme inattention, and externalizing problems aggregated in the 2 types defined by extreme hyperactivity.ConclusionDSM-IV appeared superior to DSM-III-R in subcategorical homogeneity and in exhaustiveness (ability to classify all apparent cases). J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(1):17–24.     

Co-occurrence of motor problems and autistic symptoms in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Objective:To investigate the relation between parent reports of motor problems and clinically significant autistic symptoms in children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Method:Subjects were male (n = 521) and female (n = 330) twins from an epidemiological study of ADHD, ages 7 to 19 years at assessment using the Child Behavior Checklist and semistructured psychiatric diagnostic interviews. Parent-rated Social Responsiveness Scale questionnaires were returned for 62% of 1,647 individuals who participated in interviews. After exclusion of subjects with incomplete data or evidence of mental retardation, 851 subjects (52%) were available for the present study analysis. Each subject was classified by DSM-IV ADHD subtype and assigned to one of seven population-defined ADHD subtypes based on latent class analysis of DSM-IV ADHD symptoms. Within each ADHD subtype, we examined the relation between Child Behavior Checklist motor problem endorsement and elevated autistic symptoms on the Social Responsiveness Scale.Results:Motor problems and high levels of autistic traits were most common in individuals with combined-type ADHD. Within each of the clinically relevant DSM-IV and latent class ADHD subtypes, individuals with the combination of motor problems and ADHD were more likely to have high levels of autistic traits than those with ADHD alone.Conclusions:Children with the combination of ADHD and parent-reported motor coordination deficits have elevated levels of autistic symptoms. Targeted treatment and prevention interventions may be warranted. The exclusion criteria for DSM-IV ADHD should be revised to reflect these population-based findings.     

Longitudinal Outcome of Youth Oppositionality: Irritable,Headstrong, and Hurtful Behaviors Have Distinctive Predictions

ObjectiveOppositional behavior in youths is one of the strongest predictors of a wide range of psychiatric disorders. We test the hypothesis that oppositionality encompasses an Irritable, a Headstrong, and a Hurtful dimension, each with distinct predictions.MethodLongitudinal design combining data from two British national surveys and their respective 3-year follow-ups (N = 7,912). The Developmental and Well-Being Assessment was used to generate DSM-IV diagnoses.ResultsThe Irritable dimension was the sole predictor of emotional disorders at follow-up and was particularly associated with distress disorders (depression and anxiety) rather than fear disorders (phobias, separation anxiety, and panic disorder), both before and after adjustment for baseline psychopathology. The Headstrong dimension was the only predictor of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at follow-up. Both Headstrong and Hurtful predicted conduct disorder, although only the Headstrong dimension did so after adjustment for baseline psychopathology. The Hurtful dimension was the strongest predictor of aggressive conduct disorder symptoms.ConclusionsOur data suggest a developmental model of mental disorder whereby oppositionality is an interim shared manifestation of different dimensions of psychopathology with distinct outcomes.     

External validity of children's self-reported sleep functioning: associations with academic,social, and behavioral adjustment

ObjectiveSeveral child-report measures of sleep functioning have been developed but very few studies have examined the external validity of child self-reported sleep in relation to daytime functioning. This study examined child-reported sleep in relation to teacher-rated psychopathology symptoms and also tested the hypothesis that child-reported sleep would be associated with poorer child- and teacher-reported functioning after controlling for demographics and psychopathology symptoms that are known to be associated with adjustment.MethodsParticipants were 175 children (81 boys, 94 girls) in 1st–6th grades (ages 6–13) and their teachers. Children completed the Sleep Self-Report. Teachers completed a measure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional/conduct, and anxiety/depression symptoms. Children and teachers completed multiple measures of academic, behavioral, and social/peer functioning.ResultsChild-reported sleep was significantly associated with teacher-rated inattentive and internalizing symptoms, even after controlling for child demographics, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and conduct problems. Multilevel modeling analyses further indicated that, after controlling for child demographics and psychopathology symptoms, child-reported sleep problems were significantly associated with poorer child- and teacher-reported academic, behavioral, and social functioning (including increased reactive aggression, peer rejection, loneliness, and lower friendship satisfaction and self-worth).ConclusionsFindings provide initial support for the external validity of children's self-reported sleep functioning. Results of this study suggest that it may be clinically useful to screen for sleep problems by assessing for children's own perceptions of their sleep. Future studies should include both child- and parent-reported sleep functioning to further examine the utility of children's ratings of sleep functioning.     

Characteristics and comorbidity of ADHD sib pairs in the Central Valley of Costa Rica

BackgroundWhile genetic epidemiological studies demonstrate a substantial degree of genetic predisposition for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), they also suggest that the genetics are complex and may differ between populations or ethnic groups.ObjectiveThis study describes the phenomenology of siblings with ADHD from the genetically isolated population of the Central Valley of Costa Rica.MethodsRates of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)–defined ADHD subtypes and comorbid conditions were calculated in a sample of 157 ADHD-affected children (probands and siblings) recruited for genetic studies using standardized approaches. Sib-sib comparisons and logistic regressions were conducted to identify significant patterns of concordance.ResultsCombined-type ADHD (69.5%) was the most common subtype among probands, followed by the inattentive (27.4%), and hyperactive-impulsive (3.2%) subtypes. Anxiety disorders were prevalent (55.9%), as were disruptive behavior disorders (30.9%) and Tourette disorder (17.0%). Probands and siblings showed high sib-sib concordance for anxiety disorders.ConclusionsADHD in Costa Rica is similar in clinical and demographic characteristics to ADHD seen in other parts of the world, although the rates of co-occurring psychiatric disorders differ somewhat from those previously reported in Latin American samples. Comorbid anxiety is prevalent, with high rates of sib-sib concordance, and may represent a distinct, homogeneous subgroup suitable for genetic studies.     

Oppositional defiant disorder: a review of neurobiological and environmental correlates, comorbidities, treatment and prognosis

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is an independent diagnostic entity but it is frequently studied in conjunction with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Conduct Disorder (CD). The purpose of this paper is to review the extant evidence, through the PubMed database, on the neurobiological correlates of oppositional defiant disorder and also describe the familiar and school functioning, comorbidities, prognosis and therapeutic options for oppositional defiant disorder. Evidence of hormonal, genetic and neuro-functional findings in oppositional defiant disorder, correlation with the family, school relations and performance, and the association with mood and anxiety and disruptive disorders are described. The risk of an evolution to conduct disorder and of persistence of the oppositional defiant disorder symptoms is depicted. A review of the effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and medication is presented. Analysis of the available evidence shows that the impact of oppositional defiant disorder should not be ignored and it should be properly addressed. The effect of treatment for oppositional defiant disorder on the long-term outcome of patients still needs to be addressed.     

Psychiatric disorders in preschoolers: the structure of DSM-IV symptoms and profiles of comorbidity

Psychiatric disorders have been increasingly recognized in preschool children; at present, however, we know comparatively less about how well current diagnostic manuals capture the symptoms described in this age group and how comorbidity is patterned. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the symptoms defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) load on their respective disorders, examine whether individual symptoms exist that load particularly high or low on the disorder they allegedly define, and analyze how comorbidity clusters in individual children. Parents of a community sample of Norwegian 4-year-olds (N = 995) were interviewed using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a latent profile analysis (LPA) were performed on the symptoms of seven DSM disorders: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, and separation anxiety disorder. The results showed that the CFA solution that closely resembled the disorders delineated in the DSM-IV fitted the data best. However, vegetative symptoms did not define preschool depression. The LPA identified nine symptom profiles among preschoolers, of which four showed evidence of psychopathology: comorbid MDD/GAD + ADHD combined type, comorbid MDD/GAD + ADHD hyperactive/impulsive type, separation anxiety only, and social phobia only. In conclusion, the symptoms observed in preschoolers fit the DSM-IV well, and comorbidity followed specific patterns.     

Simple Identification of Complex ADHD Subtypes Using Current Symptom Counts

ObjectiveNew attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes identified through latent class analysis have been recently proposed. Here, we assess the accuracy of simple rules based on symptom counts for the assignment of youths to clinically relevant population-derived ADHD subtypes: severe inattentive (SI) and severe combined (SC).MethodData from 9,675 twins and siblings from Missouri and Australia aged 7 to 19 years were analyzed using continuous and categorical models of ADHD symptoms using principal components analysis and subtyping by DSM-IV and by latent class criteria. Cut points were derived for classifying SI and SC subtypes by positive predictive value, negative predictive value, percent positive agreement, and Matthew coefficient of agreement.ResultsPrincipal components analysis suggested two underlying factors: total number of symptoms and symptom type, with SI and SC latent class subtypes clearly mapping to distinct areas on a plot of these factors. Having six or more total symptoms and fewer than three hyperactive-impulsive symptoms accurately predicts the latent class SI subtype. The latent class SC subtype was best identified by 11 or more total symptoms and 4 or more hyperactive-impulsive. The DSM-IV ADHD subtype criteria accurately identified the SC subtype but only poorly for the SI subtype.ConclusionsSymptom counts criteria allow the simple and accurate identification of subjects with severe ADHD subtypes defined by latent class analysis. Such simple symptom counts corresponding to screening cut points selected latent class-derived SI subtype subjects with greater precision than DSM-IV criteria.     

Assessment of a conceptually informed measure of emotion dysregulation: Evidence of construct validity vis a vis impulsivity and internalizing symptoms in adolescents with ADHD

ObjectivesDespite advances in understanding associations among attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion dysregulation (ED), and related outcomes, there is incongruity between ADHD‐relevant conceptualizations of ED and available measures of ED. To assess the psychometric properties of a parent‐report questionnaire of ED conceptualized as deficits in the ability to modulate the (a) speed/degree of emotion escalation; (b) expression intensity; and (c) speed/degree of de‐escalation.MethodsParticipants were 209 adolescents with ADHD (78% male; 13.5–17.8 years old [M = 15.2 SD = 0.91]). Questionnaire items were selected from parent‐report scales of ED and oppositional defiant disorder and subjected to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and validity analyses.ResultsThe EFA revealed two factors, with speed/degree of escalation combined with intensity as factor one, and speed/degree of de‐escalation as factor two. Factor one scores were related to ADHD impulsivity symptoms but not to anxiety and depression symptoms and they remained predictors of impulsivity even in the presence of self‐report ED, evincing convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity. Factor two scores were related to anxiety and depression but not impulsivity, evincing convergent and discriminant validity.ConclusionThese results inform our understanding of ADHD‐relevant ED in adolescence and offer avenues for future research in measurement development, as well as for understanding ED and ADHD‐related impairment.     

Anxiety and depression in adolescents with ADHD and autism spectrum disorders; correlation between parent- and self-reports and with attention and adaptive functioning

Background: Adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk of anxiety and depression. This is important to identify in the clinical assessment to understand its impact.

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between parent- and self-reports of anxiety and depression in adolescents with ADHD or ASD, as well as the correlation with adaptive functioning and performance on an attention test.

Method: A total of 65 adolescents with an ADHD diagnosis (n?=?24) or an ASD diagnosis (n?=?41) filled out Beck Youth Inventories of Emotional and Social Impairment (BYI) to assess depression and anxiety and completed a Continuous Performance Test (QbTest) measuring ADHD symptoms. Parents of the participants completed the internalizing domain in the Five to Fifteen questionnaire (FTF), measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) about the adolescent’s adaptive functioning.

Results: Approximately a third of the study group self-reported substantial internalizing mental symptoms not always recognized by parents, and not always obvious in adaptive function or performance at ADHD test. Correlations between BYI and FTF were low. The BYI depression inventory correlated negatively with VABS and positively with activity level in a subgroup medicated for ADHD. There was a stronger correlation between girls BYI and FTF results as compared with boys.

Conclusions: The results highlight the need for identification of anxiety and depression, using both self- and parent report. Present anxiety and depression symptoms do not seem to affect the clinical assessment of ASD and ADHD.     

Investigating Direct and Indirect Genetic Effects in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Using Parent-Offspring Trios

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly heritable, but little is known about the relative effects of transmitted (i.e., direct) and nontransmitted (i.e., indirect) common variant risks. Using parent-offspring trios, we tested whether polygenic liability for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and lower cognitive ability is overtransmitted to ADHD probands. We also tested for indirect or genetic nurture effects by examining whether nontransmitted ADHD polygenic liability is elevated. Finally, we examined whether complete trios are representative of the clinical ADHD population.MethodsPolygenic risk scores (PRSs) for ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome, and cognitive ability were calculated in UK control subjects (n = 5081), UK probands with ADHD (n = 857), their biological parents (n = 328 trios), and also a replication sample of 844 ADHD trios.ResultsADHD PRSs were overtransmitted and cognitive ability and obsessive-compulsive disorder PRSs were undertransmitted. These results were independently replicated. Overtransmission of polygenic liability was not observed for other disorders. Nontransmitted alleles were not enriched for ADHD liability compared with control subjects. Probands from incomplete trios had more hyperactive-impulsive and conduct disorder symptoms, lower IQ, and lower socioeconomic status than complete trios. PRS did not vary by trio status.ConclusionsThe results support direct transmission of polygenic liability for ADHD and cognitive ability from parents to offspring, but not for other neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders. They also suggest that nontransmitted neurodevelopmental/psychiatric parental alleles do not contribute indirectly to ADHD via genetic nurture. Furthermore, ascertainment of complete ADHD trios may be nonrandom, in terms of demographic and clinical factors.