Predictors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Preschool Children

描述（由申请人提供）：本纵向研究基于以下假设：AD/HD儿童是一个神经易感群体，但父母特征的质量会影响症状的表现和严重程度。因此，在学龄前儿童中通过神经心理学测试评估的神经脆弱性的证据可能特别有助于区分那些“有风险”的儿童，他们会和不会继续发展为AD/HD。此外，通过评估学龄前儿童的育儿技能质量，我们假设存在一种相互作用，即神经心理缺陷和消极育儿特征的结合将预示着有风险的学龄前儿童在学龄期间的不良后果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This longitudinal study is based upon the hypothesis that children with AD/HD represent a neurologically vulnerable group, but that the quality of parenting characteristics affects the manifestation and severity of symptoms. As such, evidence of neurological vulnerability, as assessed by neuropsychological tests in preschool children may be particularly useful for distinguishing between those "at risk" children who do and do not go on to develop AD/HD. Further, by assessing the quality of parenting skills during the preschool age, we hypothesize that there will be an interaction such that the combination of neuropsychological deficits and negative parenting characteristics will portend adverse outcome during the school-age years for at risk preschool children. The primary aim is to determine whether neuropsychological and parenting factors, independently and in combination, distinguish between inattentive/hyperactive preschool children who do and do not develop AD/HD. The goal is to recruit and follow a large sample of 3 and 4 year-old "at risk" and control children for whom behavioral, neuropsychological and parenting data are collected at baseline. Subsequently, behavioral ratings will be gathered every six months, and more in-depth clinical, neuropsychological and parenting assessments will be conducted annually. The primary dependent measures for this study will be collected when the children are six years-old. In addition, a secondary aim is to examine the extent to which genetic status has predictive validity for the emergence of ADHD, and the degree to which genetic status relates to neuropsychological findings and interacts with parenting factors in the emergence of AD/HD.