Aetiology for the covariation between combined type ADHD and reading difficulties in a family study: the role of IQ.
BACKGROUND
Twin studies using both clinical and population-based samples suggest that the frequent co-occurrence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and reading ability/disability (RD) is largely driven by shared genetic influences. While both disorders are associated with lower IQ, recent twin data suggest that the shared genetic variability between reading difficulties and ADHD inattention symptoms is largely independent from genetic influences contributing to general cognitive ability. The current study aimed to extend the previous findings that were based on rating scale measures in a population sample by examining the generalisability of the findings to a clinical population, and by measuring reading difficulties both with a rating scale and with an objective task. This study investigated the familial relationships between ADHD, reading difficulties and IQ in a sample of individuals diagnosed with ADHD combined type, their siblings and control sibling pairs.


METHODS
Multivariate familial models were run on data from 1,789 individuals at ages 6-19. Reading difficulties were measured with both rating scale and an objective task. IQ was obtained using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales (WISC-III/WAIS-III).


RESULTS
Significant phenotypic (.2-.4) and familial (.3-.5) correlations were observed among ADHD, reading difficulties and IQ. Yet, 53%-72% of the overlapping familial influences between ADHD and reading difficulties were not shared with IQ.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding that familial influences shared with general cognitive ability, although present, do not account for the majority of the overlapping familial influences on ADHD and reading difficulties extends previous findings from a population-based study to a clinically ascertained sample with combined type ADHD.
King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. celeste.cheung@kcl.ac.uk
Celeste H M
CH
Cheung
Alexis C
AC
Wood
Yannis
Y
Paloyelis
Alejandro
A
Arias-Vasquez
Jan K
JK
Buitelaar
Barbara
B
Franke
Ana
A
Miranda
Fernando
F
Mulas
Nanda
N
Rommelse
Joseph A
JA
Sergeant
Edmund J
EJ
Sonuga-Barke
Stephen V
SV
Faraone
Philip
P
Asherson
Jonna
J
Kuntsi
D000293:Adolescent; D001077:Aptitude Tests; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D055815:Young Adult