Inferring candidate genes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessed by the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2006 Jul;113(7):929-38. doi: 10.1007/s00702-005-0366-5. Epub 2005 Dec 14.

Abstract

The present study tests the psychometric properties and validity of the German version of the World Health Organization Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale (ASRS), which is a short screening instrument for use in the general population. Furthermore, two candidate genes for ADHD, the COMT VAL158MET and the 5-HT2a T102C polymorphisms, were tested for associations with the ASRS subscales inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity in N = 203 healthy subjects. The ordinal CFA yielded a two-factorial model corroborating the structure of the official English WHO version. Genetic analysis revealed an association between the VAL allele of COMT and the inattention scale (F(1, 201) = 7.20, p = 0.008), the hyperactivity/impulsivity scale (F(1, 201) = 4.30, p = 0.039), and the total ASRS scale (F(2, 201) = 7.64, p = 0.006) with highest scores in carriers of the MET/MET genotype. The C-allele of 5-HT2a was significantly associated with the hyperactivity/impulsivity scale (F(1, 201) = 5.52, p = 0.020) and the total ASRS scale (F(1, 201) = 4.21, p = 0.042) with highest scores in carriers of the TT genotype. The data provide evidence for the structural as well as for the external validity of the ASRS.

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology
  • Brain Chemistry / genetics*
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genetic Testing / methods*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / diagnosis
  • Impulsive Behavior / genetics
  • Impulsive Behavior / physiopathology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / genetics*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase