TY  - JOUR
T1  - SEparation of cognitive impairments in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder into 2 familial factors
AU  - Kuntsi J, Wood AC, Johnson KA, et al
Y1  - 2010/11/01
N1  - 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.139
JO  - Archives of General Psychiatry
SP  - 1159
EP  - 1166
VL  - 67
IS  - 11
N2  - Context 
    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with widespread cognitive impairments, but it is not known whether the apparent multiple impairments share etiological roots or separate etiological pathways exist. A better understanding of the etiological pathways is important for the development of targeted interventions and for identification of suitable intermediate phenotypes for molecular genetic investigations.Objectives 
    To determine, by using a multivariate familial factor analysis approach, whether 1 or more familial factors underlie the slow and variable reaction times, impaired response inhibition, and choice impulsivity associated with ADHD.Design 
    An ADHD and control sibling-pair design.Setting 
    Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.Participants 
    A total of 1265 participants, aged 6 to 18 years: 464 probands with ADHD and 456 of their siblings (524 with combined-subtype ADHD), and 345 control participants.Main Outcome Measures 
    Performance on a 4-choice reaction time task, a go/no-go inhibition task, and a choice-delay task.Results 
    The final model consisted of 2 familial factors. The larger factor, reflecting 85% of the familial variance of ADHD, captured 98% to 100% of the familial influences on mean reaction time and reaction time variability. The second, smaller factor, reflecting 13% of the familial variance of ADHD, captured 62% to 82% of the familial influences on commission and omission errors on the go/no-go task. Choice impulsivity was excluded in the final model because of poor fit.Conclusions 
    The findings suggest the existence of 2 familial pathways to cognitive impairments in ADHD and indicate promising cognitive targets for future molecular genetic investigations. The familial distinction between the 2 cognitive impairments is consistent with recent theoretical models—a developmental model and an arousal-attention model—of 2 separable underlying processes in ADHD. Future research that tests the familial model within a developmental framework may inform developmentally sensitive interventions.
SN  - 0003-990X
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.139
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.139
ER  -