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Familial links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and bipolar disorder

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Abstract

Although family, twin, and adoption studies indicate that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a familial condition with a robust genetic component, molecular genetic studies of candidate genes have produced inconsistent findings. One of the challenges to elucidating the genetic architecture of ADHD is its potential genetic heterogeneity. Therefore, efforts are needed to identify etiologically homogenous subgroups of subjects with ADHD for use in genetic studies. The current article reviews evidence suggesting that parsing ADHD subjects based on comorbidity with conduct and bipolar disorders may yield familial subtypes that are suitable for genetic analyses.

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  1. Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, ACC-725, 02114, Boston, MA, USA

    Alysa E. Doyle PhD & Stephen V. Faraone PhD

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  1. Alysa E. Doyle PhD
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  2. Stephen V. Faraone PhD
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Doyle, A.E., Faraone, S.V. Familial links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and bipolar disorder. Curr Psychiatry Rep 4, 146–152 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0049-y

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