NEVRONOR-Nasjonal satsing på nevrovitenskap f

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (hyperkinetic disturbance; ADHD) is a common condition in school age children (world-wide prevalence estimates 3-7 %). In addition most affected individuals will continue to show symptoms as adults. Still, it has l ong been considered a controversial diagnosis, in the general population, as well as in the psychiatric community. The biological basis for this condition is presently poorly understood, but it has a substantial genetic component. In addition, there is st rong evidence for other pre- and perinatal risk factors, and recently evidence for specific interactions between the genetic susceptibility and environmental risk factors has started to emerge. In 2006 we initiated a long-term interdisciplinary study to e xplore the biology of ADHD, using a combination of neuropsychology, brain imaging, molecular genetics and basic molecular neuroscience. We have obtained detailed clinical records from 5000 adults, i.e. nearly all (>95 %) of adult ADHD patients that were c onsidered for stimulant therapy in Norway during 1997-2005. Here we propose an additional study, where we will investigate both the environmental risk factors of ADHD, its comorbidity with somatic and psychiatric conditions and their interaction with gene tic factors. We will test the following hypotheses: (1) Is there a relationship between pre- and perinatal risk factors, including mothers' health and adult ADHD? (2) Is this relationship (if any) limited to clinical or demographic subgroups of ADHD pat ients? (3) Does adult ADHD predict ADHD among siblings? (4) What is the relationship between ADHD susceptibility genes and environmental factors (G x E interactions), e.g. do specific genetic variants increase or decrease the putative risk factors determ ined above? This long-term inter-disciplinary research project will be pursued in close collaboration with leading international groups in Europe and USA.