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Maternal and paternal psychopathology increases risk of offspring ADHD equally

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2011

F. Lindblad ,
G. Ringbäck Weitoft  and
A. Hjern
F. Lindblad*
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
G. Ringbäck Weitoft
Affiliation:
National Board of Health and Welfare, SE-106 30 Stockholm, Sweden
A. Hjern
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
*
*Address for correspondence: F. Lindblad, Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background.

Parental psychopathology may increase the risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the offspring. The aim of this study was to analyze if/how gender influences the association between parental psychiatric/addictive disorders and ADHD medication in the offspring.

Methods.

Register study in national birth cohorts of 1.1 million 6–19-year-olds. In this population, 7960 individuals with ADHD medication were identified in the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register during 2006. Data on parental psychiatric/addictive disorders and suicide death were obtained through linkages to national registers. Logistic regression was used for analyses with multiple adjustments for socio-economic, regional and demographic confounders.

Results.

Parental diagnosis related to illicit drugs was associated with the highest odds ratios (ORs) of ADHD medication (OR: ~3.5–4), followed by suicide attempt/death (OR: ~ 3–3.5), alcohol (OR:~2.5–3), affective disorder (OR: ~ 2.5) and psychosis (OR: ~ 2–2.5). The ORs were of similar magnitudes for maternal and paternal psychopathology and did not vary by the gender of the offspring. Adjusting for social characteristics decreased the ORs substantially and in the same way regarding fathers' and mothers' possible influence on the risk of ADHD in children.

Conclusions.

Neither parental nor offspring gender seems to influence the link between parental addictive/psychiatric disorder and offspring ADHD.

Keywords

ADHDcentral stimulantsparental psychopathologyregister study
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , December 2011 , pp. 367 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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