Dr. Julia Geissler
Associated member: June 2009 - May 2012
Speaker of the members: 2010-2011
Title: Neurobiological Endophenotypes in the course of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Abstract: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most prominent childhood disorders with a prevalence of 3-5% and a strong tendency to persist into adulthood (1-2%). It possesses a strong genetic component and researchers have been able to identify a number of susceptibility genes in the catecholaminergic and serotonergic system, e.g. COMT, DRD4, DRD5, DAT1, 5-HTT and HTR1? (Faraone et al, 2005) associated with ADHD. Evidence points towards an interaction of a multitude of genes with small effect sizes, which in combination with an extremely heterogeneous phenotype makes diagnosis as well as aetiological research difficult. It is for these reasons that recent years have witnessed an increased interest in establishing endophenotypes for ADHD as a link between genotype and phenotype (for a review, see Castellanos & Tannock, 2002; Doyle et al, 2005). Putative endophenotypes include response inhibition, temporal processing and working memory. The planned 5-year catamnestic study will investigate how endophenotypes change in the course of the disorder, potential environmental factors contributing to these changes and interactions with genetic make-up. Furthermore we’re going to test whether endophenotype parameters in childhood allow predictions regarding a person’s ADHD status and symptomatology in adolescence and adulthood..
Principal investigator:
Current position:
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
Füchsleinstraße 15
97080 Würzburg
| Phone | +49 931 201-77240 |
| Fax | +49 931 201-77262 |
| Julia Geissler |
