Appropriateness of array-CGH in the ADHD clinics: A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Neurogenetics
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with significant comorbidity.
• Array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) is effective for detecting chromosomal aberrations in other neuropsychiatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of array-CGH in children and adolescents with ADHD.
• To compare the detection rate of copy number variants (CNVs) in ADHD with and without comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• Array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) was performed on 98 children and adolescents.
• Participants were divided into two groups: ADHD primary diagnosis and ADHD with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or intellectual disability (ID).

Main Results:

• Clinically significant CNVs were detected in 8.5% of ADHD-only cases and 12% of comorbid cases.
• No statistically significant difference in diagnostic yield was observed between the groups.
• CNV detection rates were similar across groups, suggesting array-CGH's broad utility.

Conclusions:

• Array-CGH is a valuable tool for detecting clinically significant CNVs in individuals with ADHD, irrespective of comorbidities.
• Routine implementation of array-CGH in ADHD clinics is recommended for improved diagnosis.