IntroductionAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, highly heritable childhood-onset psychiatric disorder affecting 2%-6% of children worldwide and is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. A previous review of genetic epidemiologic studies, including more than 14 published twin studies and 5 adoption studies, indicated that most of the variation was attributable to genetic factors, consistently demonstrating high heritability in the range of 75%-91%.1 Recent reviews further showed that twin studies of ADHD had been consistent with an average heritability rate of 76%.
2-5Previous studies have suggested that there may be a parentof-origin effect for ADHD candidate genes. For example, a generalized parent-of-origin effect was observed in an Irish ADHD study. 10 Several studies have failed to confirm an overall parent-of-origin effect; 10,15,16 however, gene-specific parent-of-origin effects cannot be excluded.
10The conventional genome-wide association (GWA) study approach is a hypothesis-free, systematic search of tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome to identify novel associations with common diseases. It has emerged as a powerful tool to identify disease-related genes for many common human disorders and other phenotypes. 17 Recently, several GWA studies of ADHD and related phenotypes were reported, and 4 of them were based on a sample set of the International Multicentre ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) study and genotyped with funds from the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN).18 For example, the first GWA scan of ADHD was completed on a sample of 909 com plete proband-parent trios with a child with the combined subtype of ADHD from the IMAGE project.19 To Background: Previous studies have suggested that there may be a parent-of-origin effect for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) candidate genes. The objective of the present study was to investigate parent-of-origin effects using a genome-wide association analysis of the International Multicentre ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) study sample. Methods: Family-based association analysis for ADHD using 846 ADHD probands and their parents was performed using the PLINK program, and parent-of-origin effects were studied using a Z score for the difference in paternal versus maternal odds ratios. Results: We identified 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing parent-of-origin effects at a significance level of p < 0.001. The most significant SNP, rs7614907, is at position 3q13.33 in the CDGAP gene (p = 0.000064 for parent-of-origin effect). Furthermore, 2 genes (FAS and PDLIM1) showed moderate parent-of-origin effects (p = 0.00086 for rs9658691 and p = 0.00077 for rs11188249) and strong maternal transmission (p = 0.000059 for rs9658691 and p = 0.0000068 for rs11188249). In addition, ZNF775 showed a moderate parent-of-origin effect (p = 0.00036 for rs7790549) and strong paternal transmission (p = 0.000041 for rs7790549). Limitations: We only had 1 s...