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Neuropsychological functioning in nonreferred siblings of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Larry J Seidman1, Joseph Biederman, Michael C Monuteaux
1Harvard Medical School.
Insights
Siblings with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show executive and memory deficits. However, these neuropsychological impairments in siblings without ADHD suggest they are not an endophenotype for the disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Genetics
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Siblings of individuals with ADHD are at increased risk for developing the disorder.
- Understanding neuropsychological functioning in siblings is crucial for identifying potential endophenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate neuropsychological performance in nonreferred siblings of children with ADHD.
- To determine if specific cognitive deficits are present in siblings who do not have ADHD.
- To investigate the potential of neuropsychological deficits as an endophenotype for ADHD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 156 siblings of ADHD probands and 118 siblings of controls were assessed.
- Participants included siblings with and without ADHD, matched for age, IQ, and grade level.
- Neuropsychological tests measured attention, executive functions, and memory, administered blindly to clinical status.
Main Results:
- Siblings with ADHD exhibited significant impairments on the Stroop test and in verbal learning and memory compared to controls.
- Siblings without ADHD demonstrated performance comparable to control siblings across most measures.
- These findings indicate specific cognitive deficits in nonreferred siblings with ADHD.
Conclusions:
- Neuropsychological deficits, including executive and attention impairments, are present in nonreferred individuals with ADHD.
- The observed deficits in siblings without ADHD suggest they are unlikely to represent a reliable endophenotype for ADHD.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the genetic and environmental factors contributing to ADHD and its familial transmission.
Abstract:
The goal of this study was to assess neuropsychological functioning in nonreferred siblings of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants were 156 siblings of ADHD probands with (N = 40) and without (N = 116) ADHD (according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edition, revised; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) and 118 siblings of non-ADHD normal controls of similar age, IQ, and grade level. Information on attention, executive, and memory functions was obtained in a standardized manner without knowledge of clinical status. Compared with siblings of controls, siblings with ADHD were significantly impaired on the Stroop test and on verbal learning and memory. In contrast, siblings without ADHD were similar to controls on virtually all measures. These data suggest that some executive, attention, and verbal learning deficits are found in nonreferred individuals with ADHD but that neuropsychological deficits are unlikely to constitute an endophenotype to ADHD.