Genetic Overlap Between Measures of Hyperactivity/Inattention and Mood in Children and Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 228714
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 48 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2009 Pages: 1094-1101
• Author(s): James Cole, M.S.; Harriet A. Ball, Ph.D.; Neilson C. Martin, P.hD.; Jane Scourfield, Ph.D., M.R.C.Psych; Peter McGuffin, Ph.D., F.R.C.P.
• Date Published: November 2009
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated the etiological overlap between symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.

Abstract

Evidence was found to support a common genetic influence underlying symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention and negative mood in a twin sample. The finding supports the conjecture of a shared genetic etiology between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in both children and adolescent males and females. Evidence suggests that there is substantial comorbidity between ADHD and MDD in childhood and adolescence. This study investigates the degree to which etiological factors are shared between the symptoms of these significantly heritable disorders. The study measured both ADHD and MDD in a sample of 670 twin pairs and used bivariate structural equation modeling in order to partition any covariation between the two into shared genetic and environmental pathways. Tables and references