Pre- and Perinatal Risk for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Does Neuropsychological Weakness Explain the Link?

Kelsey Wiggs; Alexis L Elmore; Joel T Nigg; Molly A Nikolas

doi:10.1007/s10802-016-0142-z

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Journal article

Pre- and Perinatal Risk for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Does Neuropsychological Weakness Explain the Link?

Kelsey Wiggs, Alexis L Elmore, Joel T Nigg and Molly A Nikolas

Journal of abnormal child psychology, Vol.44(8), pp.1473-1485

11/2016

DOI: 10.1007/s10802-016-0142-z

PMCID: PMC5362256

PMID: 26961824

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/5362256View

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Abstract

Etiological investigations of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disruptive behavior problems support multiple causal pathways, including involvement of pre- and perinatal risk factors. Because these risks occur early in life, well before observable ADHD and externalizing symptoms emerge, the relation between risk and symptoms may be mediated by neurodevelopmental effects that manifest later in neuropsychological functioning. However, potential dissociable effects of pre/perinatal risk elements on ADHD and familial confounds must also be considered to test alternative hypotheses. 498 youth aged 6-17 years (55.0 % male) completed a multi-stage, multi-informant assessment including parent and teacher symptom reports of symptoms and parent ratings of pre/perinatal health risk indicators. Youth completed a neuropsychological testing battery. Multiple mediation models examined direct effects of pre- and perinatal health risk on ADHD and other disruptive behavior disorder symptoms and indirect effects via neuropsychological functioning. Parental ADHD symptoms and externalizing status was covaried to control for potential familial effects. Effects of prenatal substance exposure on inattention were mediated by memory span and temporal processing deficits. Further, effects of perinatal health risk on inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and ODD were mediated by deficits in response variability and temporal processing. Further, maternal health risks during pregnancy appeared to exert direct rather than indirect effects on outcomes. Results suggest that after controlling for familial relatedness of ADHD between parent and child, early developmental health risks may influence ADHD via effects on neuropsychological processes underpinning the disorder.

Adolescent

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - epidemiology

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - etiology

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - psychology

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - etiology

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology

Child

Comorbidity

Female

Humans

Neuropsychological Tests

Pregnancy

Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - psychology

Risk Factors

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pre- and Perinatal Risk for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Does Neuropsychological Weakness Explain the Link?
Creators: Kelsey Wiggs - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall E., Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
Alexis L Elmore - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall E., Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
Joel T Nigg - Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239-3098, USA
Molly A Nikolas - Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall E., Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. molly-nikolas@uiowa.edu
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of abnormal child psychology, Vol.44(8), pp.1473-1485
DOI: 10.1007/s10802-016-0142-z
PMID: 26961824
PMCID: PMC5362256
NLM abbreviation: J Abnorm Child Psychol
ISSN: 0091-0627
eISSN: 1573-2835
Grant note: R37 MH059105 / NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH070004 / NIMH NIH HHS R01-MH070004-01A2 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/2016
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Injury Prevention Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984213394402771

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