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Impact of exposure to parental attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder on clinical features and dysfunction in the

J Biederman1, S V Faraone, M C Monuteaux

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.

Psychological Medicine
|August 13, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Parental attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exposure impacts family dynamics, increasing conflict and reducing cohesion, but does not elevate ADHD risk in offspring beyond genetic factors. Treating parental ADHD is crucial for affected youth.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Genetics and epigenetics
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry

Background:

  • Genetic factors are known contributors to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) etiology.
  • The specific impact of parental ADHD exposure on offspring clinical features and dysfunction requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of parental ADHD on clinical features and dysfunction in offspring.
  • To compare offspring of non-ADHD, remitted ADHD, and persistent ADHD parents.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 1099 offspring (mean age 12.4 years) from parents with and without ADHD was studied.
  • Structured diagnostic interviews and cognitive/psychosocial measures were employed.
  • Analyses adjusted for parental psychopathology, offspring ADHD status, and social class.

Main Results:

  • Parental ADHD exposure was linked to increased family conflict and decreased family cohesion, irrespective of other parental psychopathology or offspring ADHD status.
  • Parental ADHD did not significantly differentiate offspring ADHD risk between remitted versus persistent ADHD parents.
  • Parental ADHD detrimentally affected school performance in offspring without ADHD, but not in those with ADHD.

Conclusions:

  • The study found no evidence that parental ADHD exposure increases offspring ADHD risk beyond the inherent genetic liability.
  • Exposure to parental ADHD negatively impacts family environment, highlighting the importance of identifying and treating adult ADHD.
  • Addressing parental ADHD may be a vital part of treatment plans for children with ADHD.
Abstract

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