ADHD & ADD Information Centre

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

home
infocentre
Adhd & Add store
news

search

home
infocentre
news
adhd books
adhd nutrition
relaxing music
mp3 downloads
links
sitemap
Title: Association between ADHD and smoking in adolescence: shared genetic, environmental and psychopathological factors

Author: Laucht, M; Hohm, E; Esser, G; Schmidt, MH; Becker, K

Abstract: The present study aimed to examine the extent to which the co-occurrence of ADHD and smoking in adolescents could be attributed to common genetic, environmental and psychopathological factors. Data are from an ongoing prospective study of the outcome of early risk factors. At age 15 years, 305 adolescents completed self-report questionnaires measuring tobacco consumption and deviant peer affiliations. Lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were obtained using standardized interviews. DNA was genotyped for the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene exon III polymorphism. Adolescents with a lifetime diagnosis of ADHD displayed significantly higher smoking activity than non-ADHD controls. A major component of this association could be accounted for by deviant peer affiliations and the comorbidity with oppositional-defiant and conduct disorder, while a minor part was attributable to DRD4 in males but not in females. These findings suggest that the association of ADHD with smoking relies on risk factors shared by the two behaviors.

Source: JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION

Publication Year: 2007


   

disclaimer

ADHD & ADD Information Centre

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder