title: Genetic aspects of childhood behavioral disorders.
abstract: The evidence is reviewed to support the concept that many disruptive, childhood and adolescent behavioral disorders including ADHD, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities, substance abuse, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, are part of a spectrum of inter-related behaviors that have a strong genetic component, are polygenically inherited, share a number of genes in common that affect dopamine, serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and are transmitted from both parents. Some of the implications of this hypothesis in relation to diagnosis and treatment are reviewed, including the possibility that the genes involved may be increasing in frequency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Comings
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D016735:Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy; D016487:Parenting; D010375:Pedigree; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics