Anatomic brain abnormalities in monozygotic twins discordant for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To examine brain-behavior relationships in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the authors obtained magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of monozygotic twins discordant for ADHD.


METHODS
National recruitment was followed by in-person assessment. MRI scans were measured algorithmically for nine pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for ADHD.


RESULTS
The affected twins had significantly smaller caudate volumes (mean difference=-0.56 ml, CI=-0.92 to -0.21) than their unaffected co-twins.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide further support for striatal models of ADHD pathophysiology.
Castellanos
F Xavier
FX
Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. castef01@med.nyu.edu
Sharp
Wendy S
WS
Gottesman
Rebecca F
RF
Greenstein
Deanna K
DK
Giedd
Jay N
JN
Rapoport
Judith L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics