Elevated rates of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich; Hesham M. Hamoda; Laura Luna; Sneha Rao; James McClendon; Peter Rotella; Deborah Waber; Katherine Boyer; Steven V. Faraone; Jane Whitney; Danielle Guild; Joseph Biederman

doi:10.2217/npy.12.53

Elevated rates of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy

Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, Hesham M. Hamoda, Laura Luna, Sneha Rao, James McClendon, Peter Rotella, Deborah Waber, Katherine Boyer, Steven V. Faraone, Jane Whitney, Danielle Guild, Joseph Biederman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy (ADHD+E) and to compare ADHD symptoms in mothers with (Fam⁺) and without (Fam^-) additional relative(s) with epilepsy. Patients & methods: Mothers (n = 16) of children with ADHD+E were assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children ADHD module and the ADHD Rating Scale IV. Information was collected on the presence (Fam⁺) or absence (Fam^-) of first-or second-degree relatives with epilepsy in the sample. Results: A total of 50% of mothers met the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. ADHD was more prevalent in Fam⁺ mothers (80%) compared with Fam^- mothers (36%; p = 0.14). Fam⁺ mothers had more current hyperactivity symptoms than Fam^- mothers (p = 0.002), higher current ADHD severity (p = 0.02) and higher ADHD Rating Scale IV hyperactivity scores (p = 0.008). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with ADHD+E is elevated in this pilot study, suggesting that ADHD symptoms in children with epilepsy and their mothers reflects shared familial genetic or environmental risks, potentially resulting in a higher prevalence of both disorders among family members. This is a pilot study and larger controlled studies are warranted.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	385-391
Number of pages	7
Journal	Neuropsychiatry
Volume	2
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2217/npy.12.53
State	Published - Oct 2012
Externally published	Yes

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@article{b8b1509eaa424f87ac9083aac63a28b7,

title = "Elevated rates of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy",

abstract = "Objectives: To describe the prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy (ADHD+E) and to compare ADHD symptoms in mothers with (Fam+) and without (Fam-) additional relative(s) with epilepsy. Patients & methods: Mothers (n = 16) of children with ADHD+E were assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children ADHD module and the ADHD Rating Scale IV. Information was collected on the presence (Fam+) or absence (Fam-) of first-or second-degree relatives with epilepsy in the sample. Results: A total of 50% of mothers met the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. ADHD was more prevalent in Fam+ mothers (80%) compared with Fam- mothers (36%; p = 0.14). Fam+ mothers had more current hyperactivity symptoms than Fam- mothers (p = 0.002), higher current ADHD severity (p = 0.02) and higher ADHD Rating Scale IV hyperactivity scores (p = 0.008). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with ADHD+E is elevated in this pilot study, suggesting that ADHD symptoms in children with epilepsy and their mothers reflects shared familial genetic or environmental risks, potentially resulting in a higher prevalence of both disorders among family members. This is a pilot study and larger controlled studies are warranted.",

author = "Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich and Hamoda, {Hesham M.} and Laura Luna and Sneha Rao and James McClendon and Peter Rotella and Deborah Waber and Katherine Boyer and Faraone, {Steven V.} and Jane Whitney and Danielle Guild and Joseph Biederman",

year = "2012",

month = oct,

doi = "10.2217/npy.12.53",

language = "English",

volume = "2",

pages = "385--391",

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issn = "1758-2008",

publisher = "University of Virginia",

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T1 - Elevated rates of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy

AU - Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph

AU - Hamoda, Hesham M.

AU - Luna, Laura

AU - Rao, Sneha

AU - McClendon, James

AU - Rotella, Peter

AU - Waber, Deborah

AU - Boyer, Katherine

AU - Faraone, Steven V.

AU - Whitney, Jane

AU - Guild, Danielle

AU - Biederman, Joseph

PY - 2012/10

Y1 - 2012/10

N2 - Objectives: To describe the prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy (ADHD+E) and to compare ADHD symptoms in mothers with (Fam+) and without (Fam-) additional relative(s) with epilepsy. Patients & methods: Mothers (n = 16) of children with ADHD+E were assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children ADHD module and the ADHD Rating Scale IV. Information was collected on the presence (Fam+) or absence (Fam-) of first-or second-degree relatives with epilepsy in the sample. Results: A total of 50% of mothers met the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. ADHD was more prevalent in Fam+ mothers (80%) compared with Fam- mothers (36%; p = 0.14). Fam+ mothers had more current hyperactivity symptoms than Fam- mothers (p = 0.002), higher current ADHD severity (p = 0.02) and higher ADHD Rating Scale IV hyperactivity scores (p = 0.008). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with ADHD+E is elevated in this pilot study, suggesting that ADHD symptoms in children with epilepsy and their mothers reflects shared familial genetic or environmental risks, potentially resulting in a higher prevalence of both disorders among family members. This is a pilot study and larger controlled studies are warranted.

AB - Objectives: To describe the prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy (ADHD+E) and to compare ADHD symptoms in mothers with (Fam+) and without (Fam-) additional relative(s) with epilepsy. Patients & methods: Mothers (n = 16) of children with ADHD+E were assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children ADHD module and the ADHD Rating Scale IV. Information was collected on the presence (Fam+) or absence (Fam-) of first-or second-degree relatives with epilepsy in the sample. Results: A total of 50% of mothers met the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. ADHD was more prevalent in Fam+ mothers (80%) compared with Fam- mothers (36%; p = 0.14). Fam+ mothers had more current hyperactivity symptoms than Fam- mothers (p = 0.002), higher current ADHD severity (p = 0.02) and higher ADHD Rating Scale IV hyperactivity scores (p = 0.008). Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD in mothers of children with ADHD+E is elevated in this pilot study, suggesting that ADHD symptoms in children with epilepsy and their mothers reflects shared familial genetic or environmental risks, potentially resulting in a higher prevalence of both disorders among family members. This is a pilot study and larger controlled studies are warranted.

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Elevated rates of ADHD in mothers of children with comorbid ADHD and epilepsy

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