Research article summary (published 6 Apr 1993):

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in people with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND. Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder is a well-recognized psychiatric disorder of childhood. Its cause is unknown, but there is evidence of a familial predisposition. Symptoms suggestive of this disorder have been reported in subjects with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone, a disease caused by mutations in the thyroid receptor-beta gene and characterized by reduced responsiveness of peripheral and pituitary tissues to the actions of thyroid hormone. We systematically evaluated the presence and severity of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in 18 families with a history of generalized resistance to thyroid hormone. METHODS. We studied 49 affected and 55 unaffected family members; 52 were adults, and 52 were children. All subjects were evaluated with structured psychiatric questionnaires by interviewers who were unaware of the medical diagnosis. The number of symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder was calculated for each subject. RESULTS. Among the adults, 11 of 22 subjects with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (50 percent) and 2 of 30 unaffected subjects (7 percent) had met the criteria for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder as children (P < 0.001). Among the children, 19 of 27 subjects resistant to thyroid hormone (70 percent) and 5 of 25 unaffected subjects (20 percent) met the criteria for the disorder (P < 0.001). The odds of having attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder were 3.2 times higher for affected male subjects than for affected female subjects and were 2.7 times higher for unaffected male subjects than for unaffected female subjects. The mean symptom score was 2.5 times higher in the affected group than in the unaffected group (7.0 vs. 2.8, P < 0.001). The frequency of other psychiatric diagnoses was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS. In our study sample, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder is strongly associated with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone.

Author information

Author/s: Hauser, P (P); Zametkin, A J (AJ); Martinez, P (P); Vitiello, B (B); Matochik, J A (JA); Mixson, A J (AJ); Weintraub, B D (BD);

Affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The New England journal of medicine (N Engl J Med), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1993-Apr; vol 328 (issue 14) : pp 997-1001

Dates: Created 1993/04/13; Completed 1993/04/13; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 8450877, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: N Engl J Med. 1993 Apr 8;328(14):1038-9. (PMID: 8450858)

CommentIn: N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 23;329(13):966; author reply 967. (PMID: 8361517)

CommentIn: N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 23;329(13):966; author reply 967. (PMID: 8204128)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - blood; genetics; psychology Child Drug Resistance - genetics Female Humans Male

Mental Disorders - diagnosis Odds Ratio Receptors, Thyroid Hormone - genetics Thyroid Hormones - blood Thyrotropin - blood Thyroxine - blood Triiodothyronine - blood

Associated Chemicals: Receptors, Thyroid Hormone (0) ; Thyroid Hormones (0) ; Triiodothyronine (6893-02-3) ; Thyroxine (7488-70-2) ; Thyrotropin (9002-71-5)

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