Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms in parents of children diagnosed with the condition

AbstractBackground: ADHD is estimated to affect 3 – 5% of British children with evidence of persistence into adulthood. Evidence for a genetic component underscores the importance of understanding the impact on families.Aim: To examine ADHD symptoms in parents attending clinic with an affected child.Method: The Adult Self Report Scale (v1.1) was given to a sample of parents. General mental health questionnaires (GHQ-12) and demographic factors were also collected.Results: 45.83% of parents showed ADHD symptoms. Family size greater than four correlated to high symptom scores.Conclusion: ADHD rates in parents were higher in this sample than general population rates of adult ADHD