Skip Navigation



Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on June 3, 2008
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsn049
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wallis, D.
Right arrow Articles by Muenke, M.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wallis, D.
Right arrow Articles by Muenke, M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Genetics of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Deeann Wallis, PhD1,2, Heather F. Russell, PhD3 and Maximilian Muenke, MD2

1Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine, 2Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, and 3Shriners Hospitals for Children-Philadelphia

All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Deeann Wallis, PhD, Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine, 2121 W Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. E-mail: dwallis{at}tigm.org


  Abstract

Objective The intent of this review is to provide an overview for the practicing psychologist/psychiatrist regarding the complexities of and the most recent advances made in the study of the genetic basis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods We review a variety of concepts including: (a) complexities involved in studying the genetics of ADHD, (b) evidence for a primarily genetic component of ADHD, (c) evidence suggesting that there are only a few genes with major effects contributing to ADHD, (d) identification of the best candidate genes, (e) linkage analysis for the identification of novel candidate genes, and (f) data on gene–environment interactions. Results It is now generally accepted that ADHD has a biological and even primarily genetic basis. However, despite the identification of several candidate genes, none of them seems to have a substantial effect and the exact etiology underlying ADHD has remained elusive. Genome-wide linkage analysis can help in the identification of novel candidate genes. While several independent groups have initiated these studies, we await further details and specific genes from fine-mapping studies. Most recently, researchers have been trying to identify gene by environment interactions to help understand ADHD. Replication of positive findings will be essential in teasing out these combinatorial influences. Conclusions Ideally, one day specific genes with major effects and specific risk factors with which they interact will be identified and we will be able to implement personalized medicine. Knowledge of such genes will allow us to identify specific diagnostic biological markers. In addition, defining the target genes is the first step in developing novel drug therapies to treat the ADHD symptoms that lead to impairment. Furthermore, such markers could also identify at risk individuals at a younger age in order to implement treatments sooner to decrease the severity of ADHD symptoms or even to prevent future ADHD symptomatology.

Key words: ADHD; association studies; DAT1; DRD4; genetics; linkage analysis.

Received November 30, 2007; revision received April 24, 2008; accepted April 26, 2008


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.