Abstract

Objectives: This research was to determine the pattern of psychiatric disorders in the imme- diate family members of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fa- mily genetic risk factors were also evaluated.

Method: 227 immediate family members, 120 parents and 107 siblings of 60 ADHD child- ren and adolescents between the ages of 5 to 17 years were evaluated. Psychiatric clinical interviews, K-SADS, SADS, and Wender determined ADHD and family members’ diagnosis. Evaluation of presence of ADHD diagnosis and other psychiatric diagnosis were based on DSM-IV standards.

Findings: The most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis in the families were disorders of dep-ression (51.7%), ADHD (48.3%), anxiety (41.7%), and obsessive compulsive (25%). The most prevalent diagnosis, comorbid to ADHD were disorders of Enuresis (38.3%), obse-

ssive-compulsive (31.7%), anxiety (30%), and tic (26.7%) in the adolescent group, it was bipolar disorder with 37.5%.

Results: The high prevalence of ADHD in the afflicted families indicates strong influence of genetic factors. The presence of comorbid disorders to ADHD and high prevalence of affective and anxiety disorders in the families of ADHD may point to homogeneity in ge-netic etiology in these disorders and subgroups of ADHD whose risk factors, etiology, and treatment responses may differ.