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Refining the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder phenotype for molecular genetic studies
A Thapar1, K Langley, M O'donovan
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, Wales, UK. thapar@cf.ac.uk
Molecular Psychiatry
|May 17, 2006
Summary
Identifying genes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) benefits from using parent and teacher reports for the clinical diagnosis. Examining antisocial behavior in ADHD is also recommended for genetic studies.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable familial disorder.
- Genetic research increasingly focuses on identifying specific susceptibility genes.
- Refining phenotypic definitions is a growing trend in complex disease genetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence guiding the examination of the ADHD phenotype for molecular genetic studies.
- To assess the utility of different conceptualizations and informant data for ADHD genetic research.
- To provide empirically derived arguments for phenotype refinement in ADHD genetic studies.
Main Methods:
- Review of genetic epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of key clinical studies on ADHD.
- Examination of findings on categorical vs. dimensional ADHD, reporter effects, comorbidity, subtypes, and persistence.
Main Results:
- Parent and teacher reports are recommended as informants for identifying ADHD susceptibility genes.
- Focusing on the clinical diagnosis of ADHD is considered useful for genetic studies.
- Examining antisocial behavior in ADHD shows empirical support for genetic research.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence supports using parent/teacher informants and the clinical diagnosis for ADHD gene discovery.
- Investigating dimensional ADHD offers complementary insights for genetic research.
- Careful empirical justification is needed before undertaking multiple analyses on refined ADHD phenotypes.