title: Correlation of a set of gene variants, life events and personality features on adult ADHD severity.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could persist into adult life in a substantial proportion of cases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of (1) adverse events, (2) personality traits and (3) genetic variants chosen on the basis of previous findings and (4) their possible interactions on adult ADHD severity. One hundred and ten individuals diagnosed with adult ADHD were evaluated for occurrence of adverse events in childhood and adulthood, and personality traits by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Common polymorphisms within a set of nine important candidate genes (SLC6A3, DBH, DRD4, DRD5, HTR2A, CHRNA7, BDNF, PRKG1 and TAAR9) were genotyped for each subject. Life events, personality traits and genetic variations were analyzed in relationship to severity of current symptoms, according to the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS). Genetic variations were not significantly associated with severity of ADHD symptoms. Life stressors displayed only a minor effect as compared to personality traits. Indeed, symptoms' severity was significantly correlated with the temperamental trait of Harm avoidance and the character trait of Self directedness. The results of the present work are in line with previous evidence of a significant correlation between some personality traits and adult ADHD. However, several limitations such as the small sample size and the exclusion of patients with other severe comorbid psychiatric disorders could have influenced the significance of present findings.
authors.affiliation: Neurogenetics Section, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 1R8.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Ronchi
authors.forename: Umesh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serretti
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000235:genetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor