Disentangling genetic transmission from the environmental effect of maternal depression during pregnancy on offspring ADHD

Maternal depression during pregnancy has been associated with ADHD in the offspring. This association may represent a causal effect, where in-utero exposure has detrimental consequences for offspring development. However,... [ view full abstract ]

Maternal depression during pregnancy has been associated with ADHD in the offspring. This association may represent a causal effect, where in-utero exposure has detrimental consequences for offspring development. However, because the association in general has not been studied with sufficient control for extraneous variables, causal inferences are not justified. Because mothers and their offspring are genetically related, and typically share many aspects of the environment, both pleiotropy and environmental variables not accounted for could be completely, or partially, responsible for the observed association.

The aim of the current study is to expand current knowledge by disentangling genetic transmission from the environmental effect of maternal depression during pregnancy on offspring ADHD. We approach the problem using and extended children-of-twins design, utilizing differential genetic relatedness among sibling mothers and their offspring in order to separate these alternative models for mother-offspring resemblance. Specifically, we will use structural equation models that allows us to quantify and test, genetic and environmental pathways from mother to offspring.

The study is part of the Intergenerational Transmission of Risk Project, using data from The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, a large prospective population-based study of parents and offspring in Norway. Results will be presented at the Conference.