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Coincidence of attention deficit disorder and atopic disorders in children: Empirical findings and hypothetical background

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Abstract

ADDH children are often reported to display signs of allergies to various substances and/ or atopic (AT) symptoms (i.e., atopic eczema, hay fever, or asthma). Since, at least for a subgroup of these children, a common biological background for both ADD and atopy may be assumed that may involve brain catecholamines, our hypothesis was that in a group of AT children (mainly atopic eczema) signs of ADD should appear more often than in controls. Parental hyperactivity ratings revealed a significantly higher frequency of ADD symptoms in the AT group, and laboratory tests sensitive to attentional capacity and inhibitory functions showed poorer performance in the AT children, the findings being similar to those reported in hyperactives. Thus, our results add support to the assumption of a common predisposing factor for both AT and ADDH in a subgroup of children.

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The authors are grateful to the children and their families. The assistance of Uta Blaschke, Axel Hulsch, Gabriele Illies, Angela Schmidt, and Carola Tessner is also gratefully acknowledged. Special appreciation is given to Prof. J. A. Stern, St. Louis, Missouri, for his helpful support in preparing the paper. Preparation of the manuscript was supported by a grant of the ETH Zürich (Switzerland) to the first author.

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Roth, N., Beyreiss, J., Schlenzka, K. et al. Coincidence of attention deficit disorder and atopic disorders in children: Empirical findings and hypothetical background. J Abnorm Child Psychol 19, 1–13 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00910561

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