Link to Information on Project Director, Dr. Joel Nigg, Ph.D.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is widely recognized as a common and disabling disorder among children throughout the world. Although rates of diagnosis and use of medication as treatment remain controversial, there is wide agreement that a substantial number of children are impaired by this condition. Although much has been learned about the nature of this condition and effective treatments for it, society continues to have significant questions concerning appropriate assessment and diagnosis, causes and mechanisms, and treatment.  

To investigate this problem further, the Michigan State University Department of Psychology has been engaged for the past nine years in a series of studies of causes and mechanisms in ADHD in children.   This work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health since 1997 and currently has funding in place through 2009. Deriving from a "multi-level" approach we examine: (a) neuropsychological and cognitive mechanisms, (b) molecular genetic markers, (c) family characteristics that may influence course and expression of symptoms, (d) cultural variation in diagnosis and symptom expression, (e) sex differences and hormonal influences, (f) environmental contaminants. This one of a kind cross-cutting project is intended to break new ground in understanding of ADHD. The project is directed by Associate Professor Joel Nigg Ph.D., of the Department of Psychology. Co-invesigators include Professor Karen Friderici, Ph.D. of the Department of Molecular Biology (who directs the molecular genetic project), Dr. Marsha Rappley, M.D. of the MSU Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Wilfried Karmaus, M.D., of the MSU Department of Epidemiology, and from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Professors Cheryl Sisk, Ph.D., Marc Breedlove, Ph.D., Juli Wade, Ph.D., and Antonio Nunez, Ph.D.