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Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
10:02

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

Predictors of parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children aged 6-7 years: a national

Emma Sciberras1, Obioha C Ukoumunne, Daryl Efron

  • 1Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic, 3052, Australia. emma.sciberras@mcri.edu.au

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|April 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Male gender, smoking during pregnancy, and maternal postnatal depression predict attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. These factors are key risks identified in an Australian study of over 3,000 families.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Identifying early predictors is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Previous research has explored various risk factors, but comprehensive analysis in diverse populations is ongoing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate prenatal, postnatal, and demographic predictors of parent-reported ADHD.
  • To analyze these predictors in a large, population-based Australian sample.
  • To identify significant risk factors for ADHD development.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.
  • Examined parent-reported ADHD status at ages 6-7 years.
  • Analyzed prenatal (e.g., smoking, alcohol use), postnatal (e.g., maternal depression, birth factors), and socio-demographic factors.

Main Results:

  • Male gender was a significant predictor of ADHD.
  • Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy emerged as a key risk factor.
  • Maternal postnatal depression was also a significant predictor of parent-reported ADHD.

Conclusions:

  • Findings confirm male gender and prenatal smoking as ADHD risk factors.
  • Maternal postnatal depression is identified as a novel and significant predictor.
  • These factors highlight critical targets for early identification and support programs.

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