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Heritability of attention problems in children: I. cross‐sectional results from a study of twins, age 3–12 years
Author(s) -
Rietveld M.J.H.,
Hudziak J.J.,
Bartels M.,
van Beijsterveldt C.E.M.,
Boomsma D.I.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.10024
Subject(s) - cbcl , twin study , heritability , child behavior checklist , contrast (vision) , developmental psychology , psychology , dominance (genetics) , demography , biology , genetics , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , gene
Multiple twin studies of attention problems (AP) from the Child Behavior Checklist or ADHD from the DSM criteria have reported on the genetic and environmental influences on these behaviors. The majority of these have studied AP and ADHD symptoms in twin samples combined across wide age spans, combined rater information and both genders. Thus, it is possible that the results are complicated by developmental, informant, and gender differences. The purpose of this study was to assess for the genetic and environmental contributions to overactive behavior (a syndrome highly related to AP in 7‐, 10‐, and 12‐years olds) in 3‐years olds (3,671 twin pairs), and attention problems in 7‐ (3,373 twin pairs), 10‐ (2,485 twin pairs), and 12‐years olds (1,305 twin pairs) while controlling for developmental, gender and rater contrast contributions. Using a cross‐sectional twin design, contributions from genetic additive, genetic dominance, unique environmental and rater contrast effects were estimated for CBCL maternal reports. We found that genetic influences on overactive behavior and attention problems are high across an age span that covers pre‐school and elementary school age. Although girls display less problem behavior compared to boys, heritability estimates were found equal for both genders at each age. Environmental experiences that are unique to the individual accounted for the remaining influence. At the age of 3 years, a rater contrast effect was detected. We hypothesize that the contrast effect represents a maternal rater bias effect that is dependent on the age of the twins. The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the clinical setting and in the context of future research. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.