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The behavioural profile of children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and of their siblings

Hans-Christoph Steinhausen1, Nicole Zülli-Weilenmann, Daniel Brandeis

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Neumuensterallee 9, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. hc.steinhausen@kjpd.uzh.ch

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|February 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related behaviors show strong family aggregation. Siblings without ADHD exhibited fewer emotional problems than those with ADHD, with parent ratings showing stronger trends.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Behavioral Genetics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Understanding the familial aggregation of ADHD and associated behavioral traits is crucial for etiological research.
  • Previous studies suggest genetic and environmental influences on ADHD, but the extent of family aggregation for broader behavioral profiles requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the behavioral profiles of children with ADHD, their siblings with and without ADHD, and healthy controls.
  • To investigate the extent to which ADHD-related behaviors and other behavioral problems aggregate within families.
  • To examine the influence of informant (parent vs. teacher) on the observed behavioral patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized standardized parent and teacher rating scales to assess behavioral profiles.
  • Compared four groups: index children with ADHD, siblings with ADHD, siblings without ADHD, and normal controls.
  • Ensured groups were matched for age and IQ to control for potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Behavioral profiles of children with ADHD and their affected siblings were highly similar, encompassing ADHD symptoms, emotional, and conduct problems.
  • Siblings without ADHD showed profiles similar to controls, with the exception of increased emotional problems.
  • Parental ratings indicated stronger familial aggregation trends for behavioral problems compared to teacher ratings.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral traits associated with ADHD, as well as other emotional and conduct problems, demonstrate significant family aggregation.
  • Informant differences in ratings may reflect context-specific behaviors or contrast effects, particularly in parental assessments.
  • Findings underscore the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors contributing to the broader behavioral phenotype in families with ADHD.

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