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Are family variables associated with ADHD, inattentive type? A case–control study in schools

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Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) seems to be associated with significant psychosocial adversity. However, few studies assessed the role of environmental, social and interpersonal factors specifically in ADHD, inattentive type (ADHD-I). Thus, this study aims to investigate whether family environment risk factors are associated with ADHD-I. In a case–control study, we assessed a non-referred sample of 100 children and adolescents with ADHD-I and 100 non-ADHD controls (6–18 years old). They were systematically evaluated through structured diagnostic interviews. The following family adversity measures were used: Rutter’s family adversity index (marital discord, low social class, large family size, paternal criminality, maternal mental disorder), Family Environment Scale (FES) (subscores of cohesion, expressiveness and conflict) and Family Relationship Index (FRI) (based on the subscores above). After adjusting for confounding factors (social phobia and maternal history of ADHD), the odds ratio (OR) for ADHD-I increased as the number of Rutter’s indicators increased. Families of children with lower FES cohesion subscores presented higher OR for ADHD-I (OR 1.24; 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.45). Lower levels of FRI, a general index of family relationship, were also related to higher risk of ADHD-I (OR 1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.21). Our findings suggest that family adversity (in general), low family cohesion and low FRI (in particular) are associated with an increase in the risk for ADHD-I. However, the cross-sectional nature of the study limits our ability to infer causality.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Pheula, Rohde, and Schmitz are with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Dr. Rohde is vice-director of the Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria do Desenvolvimento. This work was partially supported by research grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil; grant 307780/2004-0), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre and an unrestricted grant from Eli Lilly. Dr Luis Augusto Rohde was on the speakers’ bureau and/or acted as consultant for Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis and Shire in the last 3 years (less than U$ 10,000 per year and reflecting less than 5% of his gross income per year). He also received travel support (air tickets and hotel) for attending two Child Psychiatric Meetings from Novartis and Janssen-Cilag in 2010. The ADHD and Juvenile Bipolar Disorder Outpatient Programs chaired by him received unrestricted educational and research support from the following pharmaceutical companies in the last 3 years: Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, and Shire. He also receives research support from Brazilian government institutions (CNPQ, FAPERGS, HCPA and CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Serviço de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003, Brazil

    Gabriel Ferreira Pheula, Luis Augusto Rohde & Marcelo Schmitz

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  1. Gabriel Ferreira Pheula
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  2. Luis Augusto Rohde
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  3. Marcelo Schmitz
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Correspondence to Luis Augusto Rohde.

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Pheula, G.F., Rohde, L.A. & Schmitz, M. Are family variables associated with ADHD, inattentive type? A case–control study in schools. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 20, 137–145 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0158-4

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