Marital and familial conflicts and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the offspring: Systematic review

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobiological disorders among children and might either influence or be influenced by problems in marital functioning of the parents of affected children. Studies aimed at investigating marital functioning in parents of these children have found controversial results. Objective: To perform a systematic review about the marital aspects of families with ADHD children and, to correlate those aspects with other variables, like the presence of comorbidities, socioeconomical aspects and parents' mental health. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in Pubmed between 1996 and 2006, using the following keywords: "ADD", "ADHD", "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder", "Attention- Deficit", "marital conflict", and "family". Results: Sixteen of the 628 initial articles and 55 additional papers included in a following phase, based on bibliographical references, were evaluated. Impairment in marital relationships has been documented in most studies, specially when ADHD is comorbid with Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD). However, studies indicating normal marital functioning also exist. Conclusions: Study results concerning ADHD and marital dysfunction have conflicting results. Futures longitudinal studies will be necessary to clarify the impact of ADHD in marital conflict of parents of children with ADHD, and also to determine the influence of the marital conflicts in the clinical expression of the disorder.