| The etiology of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is complex and
most likely includes genetic and environmental factors. This study was conducted to evaluate
the role of previous medical history of diseases in ADHD children and their parents during the
earlier years of the ADHD children's lives.
In this case-control study, 164 ADHD children attending to Child and Adolescent
Psychiatric Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, compared with 166 normal
children selected in a random-cluster method from primary and guidance schools. ADHD
rating scale (Parents version) and clinical interview based on schedule for Schedule for
Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version
(K-SADS) were used to diagnose ADHD cases and to select the control group. Two groups
were compared for the existence of previous medical history of diseases in children and
parents. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression model were used for data analysis.
The frequency of maternal history of medical disorders (28.7% vs. 12.0%; P = 0.001)
was significantly higher in children with ADHD compared with the control group. The
frequency of jaundice, dysentery, epilepsy, asthma, allergy, and head trauma in the medical
history of children were not significantly differed between the two groups.
According to this preliminary study, it may be concluded that the maternal history
of medical disorders is one of contributing risk factors for ADHD. |