Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder Behavioral Problems Research Articles

Parenting Children with ADHD: Associations with Parental Depression, Parental ADHD, and Child Behavior Problems

The current study systematically tested the incremental and interactive associations of parental depression, parental attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and child behavior problems, as related to parenting in families of children with ADHD. Participants were 213 children with ADHD (age M(SD) = 8.58(1.55); 69% male), who each took part in the study with one parent (age M(SD) = 41.13(6.03); 10% male). Parents self-reported their own depressive and ADHD symptoms. Positive (e.g., being involved, praising the child) and negative (e.g., being over-reactive, criticizing the child) parenting behaviors were self-reported by parents and observed in an interaction task with the child. Children’s oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and ADHD behavior problems were reported by parents and teachers. Results revealed that parental depressive symptoms were associated with more self-reported negative and less self-reported positive parenting after adjusting for parental ADHD symptoms and child behavior problems. Parental ADHD symptoms were associated with more self-reported negative parenting after adjusting for child behavior problems, but not incrementally over parental depressive symptoms. An interaction effect was found, where parental ADHD symptoms were associated with more self-reported negative parenting when depressive symptoms were low. Parental psychopathology was not associated with observations of parenting. Regarding child behavior problems, only child ODD behavior was associated with more self-reported negative parenting, and no interactions between parent and child psychopathology were associated with parenting behavior. Future research, assessment, and treatment of families with children with ADHD should consider both types of parental psychopathology, and their potential interaction, alongside the contribution of child ODD behavior.

Early-Life Exposure to Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals and ADHD Behavior Problems

Background: Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) have been widely used in consumer products. Exposures in the United States and in world populations are widespread. PFC exposures have been linked to various health impacts, and data in animals suggest that PFCs may be potential developmental neurotoxicants. Little is known about the effect of PFCs on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study investigated the associations (i) between postnatal PFCs exposure and ADHD in children; and (ii) between PFCs and IgE levels for the possible disease pathogenesis. Methods: A total of 453 children from Childhood Environment and Allergic Diseases Study cohort with urine samples were recruited in Taiwan. Urinary (PFCs) levels were measured by UPLC-MS/MS. The associations between BPAG levels and IgE levels and the risk of ADHD were evaluated by multivariate linear regression and logistic regression. Results: The geometric mean (SD) of PFCS concentrations was 8.84(2.57) ng/ml at age 6. Urinary PFCS levels were positively associated with the risk of ADHD at age 6 (β=3.21 KU/l per ln-unit increase PFCS level; 95% CI, 0.99-10.51 KU/l), after adjusting for potential confounders . There was no significant gender difference. The FPCS levels were positively associated with IgE levels at age 6 (β=64.85 KU/l per ln-unit increase BPAG level; 95% CI, 14.59-115.11 KU/l). Conclusions: PFCS exposures were positively associated with the risk of ADHD in children

A Twin Study of Inhibitory Control at Age Two and ADHD Behavior Problems at Age Three.

Low levels of childhood inhibitory control (IC) are phenotypically and genetically associated with externalizing behavior problems and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Unfortunately, there is little research on this topic in early childhood, when IC first emerges. This investigation extends the previous findings of contemporaneous genetic covariance between parent-rated and laboratory-assessed IC and ADHD at age 2 by examining longitudinal links between IC at age two and ADHD behavior problems at age three in a sample of 314 same-sex twin pairs (145 monozygotic or MZ, 169 dizygotic or DZ). There were significant phenotypic associations between both parent and laboratory IC assessments at age two and later ADHD behavioral problems (correlations ranged from - .15 to - .44). In our model-fitting strategy, we included measures of ADHD and IC at age 2 as predictors of ADHD at age 3. Longitudinal genetic analyses showed that phenotypic covariance between age two IC and ADHD behavior problems one year later were explained by overlapping genetic variance (genetic correlations ranged from - .28 to - .60). However, these effects were not unique to IC and reflect variance shared with ADHD at age 2. Parent-rated IC at age two showed higher phenotypic and genetic covariance with ADHD at age three than lab ratings of IC at age two. This is the first investigation examining genetic covariance between parent and lab-based IC at age two and ADHD behavior problems at age three. Findings show that after accounting for co-occurring ADHD, early temperamental IC is not a unique genetic risk factor for later ADHD.

Combined effects of prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and material hardship on child ADHD behavior problems

ImportancePolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are carcinogenic and neurotoxic combustion by-products commonly found in urban air. Exposure to PAH is disproportionately high in low income communities of color who also experience chronic economic stress. ObjectiveIn a prospective cohort study in New York City (NYC) we previously found a significant association between prenatal PAH exposure and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavior problems at age 9. Here, we have evaluated the joint effects of prenatal exposure to PAH and prenatal/childhood material hardship on ADHD behavior problems. Materials and MethodsWe enrolled nonsmoking African-American and Dominican pregnant women in New York City between 1998 and 2006 and followed their children through 9 years of age. As a biomarker of prenatal PAH exposure, PAH-DNA adducts were measured in maternal blood at delivery and were dichotomized at the limit of detection (to indicate high vs. low exposure). Maternal material hardship (lack of adequate food, housing, utilities, and clothing) was self-reported prenatally and at multiple time points through child age 9. Latent variable analysis identified four distinct patterns of hardship. ADHD behavior problems were assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale- Revised. Analyses adjusted for relevant covariates. ResultsAmong 351 children in our sample, across all hardship groups, children with high prenatal PAH exposure (high adducts) generally had more symptoms of ADHD (higher scores) compared to those with low PAH exposure. The greatest difference was seen among the children with hardship persisting from pregnancy through childhood. Although the interactions between high PAH exposure and hardship experienced at either period (“persistent” hardship or “any” hardship) were not significant, we observed significant differences in the number of ADHD symptoms between children with high prenatal PAH exposure and either persistent hardship or any hardship compared to the others. These differences were most significant for combined high PAH and persistent hardship: ADHD Index (p < 0.008), DSM-IV Inattentive (p = 0.006), DSM-IV Hyperactive Impulsive problems (p = 0.033), and DSM-IV Index Total (p = 0.009). ConclusionThe present findings add to existing evidence that co-exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage and air pollution in early life significantly increases the risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. They suggest the need for multifaceted interventions to protect pregnant mothers and their children.