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The scientific status of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is highly controversial. Much of the controversy hinges on whether ADHD is a biological disorder. Advocates of biological causation often argue that it has a genetic basis. Etiology of ADHD has implications for treatment options, which is also a source of controversy. Given the ongoing interest in establishing the genetic basis of ADHD, this article critically examines the claims of a genetic basis to ADHD. We conclude that although genes may have a role to play in the expression of ADHD behaviors, available evidence suggests that the effect size of a genetic contribution is likely to be small.
Keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; developmental psychology; genetics; mental illness; molecular genetics; twin studies; adoption studies
Genes are simply molecular blueprints used in construction of cells, tissues, and organs. The environment serves as a "contractor" who reads and engages those genetic blueprints and is ultimately responsible for the character of a cell's life. It is a single cell's "awareness" of the environment that primarily sets into motion the mechanisms of life. (Lipton, 2005)
Armstrong (1997), based on his research into the peer review process, suggests that papers submitted for publication that run counter to received views are less likely to be published. Further, Kuhn (1996) has also spoken of a strong resistance to ideas that are at odds with existing paradigms. This article challenges the received paradigm of a genetic basis for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Existing paradigms are abandoned by the majority (but clung to by a minority) when their usefulness is proven to be unsubstantiated. This abandonment usually takes a long time. In our view, the dogma that ADHD has a strong genetic underpinning is slowly but surely being discarded or at least increasingly being challenged. However, the genetic paradigm still reigns and is unquestioned by many as evidenced by the small proportion of published journal articles which challenge the genetic basis of ADHD.
Articles that are empirical in nature are more likely to be accepted for publication in scientific journals than those that are not empirical in nature. It is relatively easy to find empirical data that supports a valued hypothesis, in this case, the genetic hypothesis of ADHD. However, Lilienfield (2002)...