Risk Factors for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop ADHD with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your (or your child’s) likelihood of developing ADHD.
Risk factors include:
- Gender—Boys are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD than girls.
- Heredity—ADHD and similar disorders tend to run in families, suggesting there may be a genetic component. People with a parent or a sibling, especially an identical twin, with ADHD are at increased risk of developing the condition.
- Age—Symptoms typically appear in young children aged 3-6 years old.
- Prenatal factors—Having a mother who smoked cigarettes and/or drank alcohol during pregnancy can increase a child's risk of ADHD. Being born prematurely may increase the risk, as well.
- Parents' health—A child may be at a higher risk of ADHD if his parent has certain conditions, such as alcoholism and conversion disorder .
Research is ongoing into the connection between ADHD and other factors, such as:
References:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2005.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/complete-index.shtml#pub11. Updated June 15, 2009. Accessed January 8, 2009.
Kids Health, Nemours Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidshealth.org . Accessed March 31, 2007.
National Resource Center on ADHD website. Available at: http://www.help4adhd.org/ . Accessed April 1, 2007.
1/8/2010 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Froehlich TE, Lanphear BP, Auinger P, et al. Association of tobacco and lead exposures with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics. 2009;124:1054-1063.
2/4/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Froehlich TE, Lanphear BP, Auinger P, et al. Association of tobacco and lead exposures with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics. 2009;124(6):e1054-1063.
Last reviewed December 2009 by Ryan Estevez, MD, PhD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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