title: Understanding the covariation among childhood externalizing symptoms: genetic and environmental influences on conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms.
abstract: Conduct disorder (CD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are common childhood externalizing disorders that frequently co-occur. However, the causes of their comorbidity are not well understood. To address that question, we analyzed data from >600 Finnish twin pairs, who completed standardized interviews at age 14. Behavior genetic methods were used to examine how genetic/environmental factors contribute to each disorder's symptoms and to their covariation. We found significant genetic effects on each disorder with only modest evidence of shared environmental influences. Our data suggest the comorbidity among CD, ADHD, and ODD is primarily explained by shared genetic influences; however, each disorder was also under unique genetic influence, supporting the distinction of each disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri USA.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Viken
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulkkinen
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D014427:Twins / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology