Perinatal Factors of Developmental Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common pediatric neurobehavioral disorder often treated in the primary care setting. It shows a high and chronic level of inattention, impulsivity/hyperactivity and/or both, and can affect more than 2 million school-age children. The researchers are not sure about the exact causes of the disorder, but it seems that apart from genetic factors, perinatal factors seem to dynamically contribute to the development of the disorder. Purpose: The aim of this review was to investigate the perinatal and obstetric factors related to the development of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood. Method: An online review of English language studies published from 2002 to 2020, using the Embase, PsychINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. From 1100 studies only 17 were included in the review since they met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: The results of the review showed that apart from heredity and genetic factors, various conditions in pregnancy or the mother’s way of life in pregnancy, adverse conditions in labor and infancy can contribute on their own or in combination to the development of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood. Obstetric vigilance to detect risk factors in pregnancy in combination with the prevention of obstetric complications is the key in preventing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.