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Related Experiment Videos

Having a co-twin with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Megan R McDougall1, David A Hay, Kellie S Bennett

  • 1School of Psychology, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. m.mcdougall@curtin.edu.au

Twin Research and Human Genetics : the Official Journal of the International Society for Twin Studies
|April 14, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Children with a co-twin diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience increased anxiety. The combined subtype of ADHD significantly impacts co-twins, while the inattentive subtype has lesser effects.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Multiple births, particularly twins, exhibit higher incidence rates of ADHD compared to singletons.
  • Understanding the psychosocial impact on unaffected co-twins is crucial for comprehensive family management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the psychosocial consequences, specifically anxiety levels, in non-ADHD children with an ADHD co-twin.
  • To examine the differential effects of ADHD subtypes (combined vs. inattentive) on co-twin and sibling anxiety.
  • To compare the impact on unaffected co-twins versus nontwin siblings.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized parental report data from the Australian Twin ADHD Project (ATAP).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed 501 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged 6-15 and their siblings.
  • Examined anxiety symptoms (generalized and separation) in twin pairs discordant for ADHD.

    • Main Results:

    • Co-twins of children with combined-type ADHD showed significantly elevated generalized and separation anxiety.
    • Inattentive ADHD had a less pronounced effect, primarily on generalized anxiety and specific to the co-twin.
    • The impact on unaffected co-twins was more pronounced than on nontwin siblings.

    Conclusions:

    • Clinical management of families with a twin diagnosed with ADHD should address the heightened anxiety in the unaffected co-twin.
    • The findings suggest a potential genetic link between ADHD subtypes and internalizing disorders like anxiety.
    • Further research into the genetic architecture of ADHD and its comorbidity with anxiety is warranted.