February 19, 2021
Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) and disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) share approximately 80% of the genetic variants associated with aggressive and antisocial behaviors, according to a study published in the journal
Nature Communications.
1 DBDs include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD), which are associated with extremely disobedient and hostile behavior, including property destruction, theft, and cruelty toward animals in the case of patients with severe CD. This new study suggests that individuals with ADHD plus ODD and/or CD appear to possess a unique genetic segment that may be detected early in life to unlock proactive, rather than reactive, treatments, researchers say.