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Absence of an Association between IgE-mediated Atopic Responsiveness and ADHD Symptomatology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1998

Tanis Gaitens
Affiliation:
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada Dr Gaitens is now at the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Bonnie J. Kaplan
Affiliation:
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bruno Freigang
Affiliation:
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Abstract

There are mixed research results in the literature regarding a possible association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and atopic disorders. If such an association were supported, the implications for underlying pathophysiology would be significant. We evaluated level of atopic responsiveness (based on IgE-mediated response to skin prick tests) in 312 referrals to a pediatric allergist. Based on the atopy code, children were categorized as non-atopic, or moderately or severely atopic. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Univariate analyses on the eight CBCL subscales revealed no differences between the atopic groups. Our results do not support an association between IgE-mediated atopic responsiveness and ADHD, but they do not rule out an association between allergic symptoms and ADHD based on some other mechanism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry

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