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Cross-generational transmission from drug abuse in parents to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2016

K. S. Kendler ,
H. Ohlsson ,
K. Sundquist  and
J. Sundquist
K. S. Kendler*
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
H. Ohlsson
Affiliation:
Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
K. Sundquist
Affiliation:
Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
J. Sundquist
Affiliation:
Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
*
*Address for correspondence: K. S. Kendler, M.D., Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics of VCU, Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126, USA. (Email: Kenneth.Kendler@vcuhealth.org)
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Abstract

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) predisposes to drug abuse (DA) and twin studies suggest shared genetic effects. We here seek to determine, using adoption and adoption-like samples, the magnitude of the cross-generational transmission from DA in parents to ADHD in their children and clarify the degree to which this arises from genetic v. rearing effects.

Method

We ascertained ADHD and DA from multiple Swedish registries. Statistical analysis was performed by Cox and path models.

Results

Risk for ADHD was significantly and similarly increased in the offspring of biological mothers and fathers with DA who did v. did not rear their offspring. Risk for ADHD was not elevated in the offspring of adoptive or step-parents with DA.

Conclusions

Cross-generational transmission was observed from DA in parents to ADHD in their children. An analysis of adoptive and adoptive-like parent–offspring relationships suggested that this transmission results from genetic and not from rearing effects.

Keywords

Adoptionattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderdrug abuseparent-offspring transmission
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 6 , April 2016 , pp. 1301 - 1309
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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