Citation

Vasconcelos MM, Malheiros AF, Werner J, Brito AR, Barbosa JB, Santos IS, Lima DF. Arq. Neuropsiquiatr. 2005; 63(1): 68-74.

Vernacular Title

Contribuicao dos fatores de risco psicossociais para o transtorno de deficit de

Affiliation

Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. mmvascon@centroin.com.br

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Associacao Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquitria)

DOI

/S0004-282X2005000100013

PMID

15830068

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the contribution of psychosocial risk factors for the diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: This is a retrospective, case-control study that analyzed 403 pupils from a public elementary school. DSM-IV symptom questionnaire and a specific psychosocial questionnaire were filled out, and a history and complete physical and neurological examinations were performed. RESULTS: The most statistically significant psychosocial risk factor was "marital discord in the past" (odds ratio = 11.66, p = 0.044). A total of 29 murders of subjects' close relatives were observed, and this variable was statistically relevant. CONCLUSION: Children that were exposed to marital discord in the past between parents underwent a 11.66-fold increase in the risk of ADHD diagnosis. Authors suggest that exposure to community violence be included among Rutters's indicators of adversity, which predispose infants and children to the future occurrence of ADHD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Language: pt