title: Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on adaptive functioning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with adaptive behavior deficits. This study examined the interaction between these 2 factors on parent ratings of adaptive behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a multisite study, primary caregivers of 317 children (8 to 16 years, M = 12.38) completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (VABS-II). Four groups of subjects were included: children with prenatal alcohol exposure with ADHD (AE+, n = 82), children with prenatal alcohol exposure without ADHD (AE-, n = 34), children with ADHD (ADHD, n = 71), and control children (CON, n = 130). VABS-II domain scores (Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialization) were examined using separate 2 (Alcohol Exposure [AE]) × 2 (ADHD diagnosis) between-subjects analyses of covariance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant main effects of AE (p < 0.001) and ADHD (p < 0.001) on all VABS-II domains; alcohol-exposed children had lower scores than children without prenatal alcohol exposure and children with ADHD had lower scores than those without ADHD. There was a significant AE × ADHD interaction effect for Communication, F(1, 308) = 7.49, p = 0.007, partial η(2) = 0.024, but not Daily Living Skills or Socialization domains (ps > 0.27). Follow-up analyses in the Communication domain indicated the effects of ADHD were stronger in comparison subjects (ADHD vs. CON) than exposed subjects (AE+ vs. AE-), and the effects of alcohol exposure were stronger in subjects without ADHD (AE- vs. CON) than in subjects with ADHD (AE+ vs.
  As found previously, both prenatal alcohol exposure and ADHD increase adaptive behavior deficits in all domains. However, these 2 factors interact to cause the greatest impairment in children with both prenatal alcohol exposure and ADHD for communication abilities. These results further demonstrate the deleterious effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and broaden our understanding of how ADHD exacerbates behavioral outcomes in this population.
authors.affiliation: Center for Behavioral Teratology , San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Ashley L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.forename: Benjamin N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Deweese
authors.forename: Claire D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Coles
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kable
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Wendy O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Kalberg
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sowell
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Sarah N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Mattson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Adaptive Behavior; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD); Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)