Parental ADHD status and its association with proband ADHD subtype and severity.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand the familial transmission of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a highly heritable disorder, the effects of paternal and maternal ADHD status on probands' ADHD symptoms and subtypes were investigated.


METHODS
In 323 trios with ADHD, data from a structured interview and a self-report scale (score of >21) were used to determine ADHD probands' diagnostic status and parental ADHD status, respectively. Parental ADHD status on proband ADHD severity and subtypes was investigated.


RESULTS
ADHD criteria were endorsed by 23% of fathers and 27% of mothers, and by at least one parent in 41% of the cases. ADHD severity was higher for children whose parents had ADHD versus those whose parents were without it. Paternal ADHD was associated with an increased likelihood of ADHD combined subtype (odds ratio = 3.56) and a decreased likelihood of the inattentive subtype (odds ratio = 0.34) in male children.


CONCLUSIONS
Parental ADHD status appears to confer different risks for the severity of hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms depending on parental sex; however, parental ADHD self-report scale score has low to negligible correlation with proband's ADHD severity. Biparental ADHD does not appear to have an additive or synergistic effect on the proband's ADHD severity.
Takeda
Toshinobu
T
Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Stotesbery
Kory
K
Power
Thomas
T
Ambrosini
Paul J
PJ
Berrettini
Wade
W
Hakonarson
Hakon
H
Elia
Josephine
J
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012720:Severity of Illness Index