Environmental risk factors for attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder

Banerjee, Tania Das; Middleton, Frank A.; Faraone, Stephen V.

doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00430.x

Cited by 469 publications

(337 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Our data on bereavement from the Danish Civil Registration System are valid and complete (close to 13, Li 100%), thus yielding accurate information exposure (24). Third, in contrast to previous studies we were able to adjust for birth outcomes and several maternal factors (smoking status during pregnancy, socio-demographic factors, history of psychiatric illnesses), which were potential confounders (3)(4)(5).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This disease causes a number of adverse academic and vocational conditions in children, and exerts stress to the affected families and economic burden on society (3). The disorder has a substantial genetic component but epidemiological studies suggest that environmental factors operating in early life most likely contribute to the disease risk (3)(4)(5). Evidence from animal studies suggests that maternal stress during pregnancy may affect fetal neurodevelopment (6;7).…”

Section: LImentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the offspring following prenatal maternal bereavement: a nationwide follow-up study in Denmark

Olsen

Vestergaard

et al. 2010

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

164

131

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Severe prenatal stress exposure has been found to increase the risk of neuropsychiatric conditions like schizophrenia. We examined the risk of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the offspring following prenatal maternal bereavement, as a potential source of stress exposure. We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study including all 1 015 912 singletons born in Denmark from 1987 to 2001. A total of 29 094 children were born to women who lost a close relative during pregnancy or up to one year before pregnancy. These children were included in the exposed cohort and other children were in the unexposed cohort. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios for ADHD, defined as the first-time ADHD hospitalization or first-time ADHD medication after 3 years of age. Boys born to mothers who were bereaved by unexpected death of a child or a spouse, had a 72% increased risk of ADHD (Hazard ratio [HR]=1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.09-2.73). Boys born to mothers who lost a child or a spouse during 0-6 months before pregnancy and during pregnancy had a HR of 1.47 (95%CI=1.00-2.16) and 2.10 (95% CI =1.16-3.80), respectively. Our findings suggest that prenatal maternal exposure to severe stress may increase the risk of ADHD in the offspring.Key words Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); stress; bereavement; fetal programming; child psychiatry.Ms No. ECAP-D-09-00192R2, Prenatal stress and ADHD, 04042010 3, LiAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood psychiatric disorders (1;2). This disease causes a number of adverse academic and vocational conditions in children, and exerts stress to the affected families and economic burden on society (3). The disorder has a substantial genetic component but epidemiological studies suggest that environmental factors operating in early life most likely contribute to the disease risk (3-5). Evidence from animal studies suggests that maternal stress during pregnancy may affect fetal neurodevelopment (6;7). One of the underlying mechanisms is termed as 'fetal programming', which occurs when the normal pattern of fetal development is disrupted by an abnormal stimulus or insult at critical time points (6;8). Excessive glucocorticoids following stress in pregnant mothers may have such a programming effect on brain development (6-9). In epidemiological studies, prenatal stress has been linked to congenital malformations (10), cerebral palsy (11), and psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia(12;13). Anxiety during pregnancy has been associated with ADHD phenotypical behavior in the offspring (14;15) but no published studies have evaluated the association between prenatal stress and the risk of ADHD.We hypothesized that prenatal stress had a programming effect on brain development (16-18) and could increase the risk of ADHD in childhood. We examined this hypothesis in a cohort study based on data from several nationwide registers in Denmark.Bereavement is a severe life event known to induce stress (...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: LImentioning

confidence: 99%

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the offspring following prenatal maternal bereavement: a nationwide follow-up study in Denmark

Olsen

Vestergaard

et al. 2010

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

164

131

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“…Claims of ADHD heritability are sometimes as high and seemingly accurate as 0.77 (Banerjee, Middleton, & Faraone, 2007). Although activity level might have a substantial genetic basis according to twin studies, “this doesn’t have anything to do with disease” according to Judith Rapoport, researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (https://www.dnalc.org/view/2198-ADHD-as-a-Genetic-Disorder, accessed 20 December 2016).…”

Section: The Genetic Origins Of Adhd May Be Overestimatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

ADHD: a critical update for educational professionals

Meerman

Batstra

Grietens

et al. 2017

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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A medical approach towards behavioural problems could make professionals without a medical background, like teachers and other educational professionals feel inapt. In this article, we raise six scientifically grounded considerations regarding ADHD, currently the most prevalent childhood psychiatric diagnosis. These “need to knows” show just how misguided and potentially stigmatizing current conceptualizations of unruly behaviour have become. Some examples are given of how teachers are misinformed, and alternative ways of reporting about neuropsychological research are suggested. A reinvigorated conceptual understanding of ADHD could help educational institutions to avoid the expensive outsourcing of behavioural problems that could also—and justifiably better—be framed as part of education’s primary mission of professionalized socialization.

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“…Biological factors, including low birth weight, pregnancy and delivery complications, maternal smoking and alcohol exposure during pregnancy, and lead contamination, have repeatedly been proposed as contributors to ADHD (Banerjee et al 2007). In addition, severity and comorbidity in children with ADHD have been linked to several adverse psychosocial influences (Schachar and Tannock 1995;Johnston and Mash 2001;Cohen et al 2002), like divorce and remarriage, disrupted parent-child relationships (including physical abuse), parenting stress, poverty, unemployment and parental psychopathology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential family and peer environmental factors are related to severity and comorbidity in children with ADHD

et al. 2008

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Summary. Behavioral genetic studies imply that salient environmental influences operate within families, making siblings in a family different rather than similar. This study is the first one to examine differential sibling experiences (as measured with the Sibling Inventory of Differential Experience) and its effect on behavioral outcomes within ADHD families. Subjects were 45 Dutch ADHD probands and their unaffected siblings (n ¼ 45) aged 10-18 years. ADHD probands and their unaffected siblings reported differences in sibling interaction, parental treatment, and peer characteristics. These nonshared environmental influences were related to both the severity of ADHD symptoms as well as to comorbid problem behaviors. These findings suggest that environmental influences that operate within ADHD families appear relevant to the severity of problem behaviors of ADHD children and their siblings.

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Environmental risk factors for attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract: Although a substantial fraction of the aetiology of ADHD is due to genes, the studies reviewed in this article show that many environmental risk factors and potential gene-environment interactions also increase the risk for the disorder.

Cited by 469 publications

References 58 publications

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the offspring following prenatal maternal bereavement: a nationwide follow-up study in Denmark

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the offspring following prenatal maternal bereavement: a nationwide follow-up study in Denmark

ADHD: a critical update for educational professionals

Differential family and peer environmental factors are related to severity and comorbidity in children with ADHD

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