Psicosocial adversity, psychopatology and functioning in adolescents siblings with high risk with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder. The determination of the clinical features, adversity factors and level of functioning in siblings of probands with ADHD, known as a high risk (ADHD R Sib), could help us to establish the risk to which they are subjected. Objective To determine the frequency of ADHD and other psychiatric disorders in R Sib. Secondary objectives were to establish the psychosocial adversity factors that predict ADHD R Sib and determine the magnitude of effect on performance and other psychiatric disorders when siblings have ADHD (R Sib +) compared to those without ADHD (R Sib -). Material and methods This multicenter study is descriptive, transversal and analytical. The sample (n=84) was formed by adolescent siblings of probands with ADHD who shared both parents. Results While 45.2% (n=38) had ADHD, 17.9% (n=15) had no psychiatric disorder. Being a R Sib + increased at least four times the likelihood of having oppositional defiant disorder (OR=4.3, 95% CI 1.3-14.8). These data remained significant when adjusted for sex, age and number of adversities (RM 95=3, 1.8-10.9%). Being a R Sib+ increased almost five times the probability of academic dysfunction (OR=4.84, 95% CI 1.41-16.63). The overall average was 3.3 adversities (SD=1.4). Psychopathology in both parents was found in 51.2% Of the sample (ES=0.055). Severe family dysfunction increased 2.5 times the probability of having ADHD in a R Sib (95% CI, 1.06-6.25). When comparing the groups with three Or more psychosocial adversities, there were no significant differences (81.6% vs. 65.2%, p=0.14). Conclusions The clinical study of R Sib for ADHD is necessary clue to the different implications in terms of prevention, early care and prognosis improvement of these patients.