1
|
Metz S, Mengering L, Lipka R, Rosada C, Otte C, Heekeren H, Wingenfeld K. The effects of yohimbine and hydrocortisone on selective attention to fearful faces: An fMRI study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107031. [PMID: 38581746 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Selective attention to salient emotional information can enable an advantage in the face of danger. The present study aims to investigate the influence of the stress neuromodulators, norepinephrine and cortisol, on selective attention processes to fearful faces and its neuronal activation. METHODS AND MATERIALS We used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. 167 healthy men between 18 and 35 years (mean [SD] age: 25.23 [4.24] years) participated in the study. Participants received either: (A) yohimbine (n= 41), (B) hydrocortisone (n = 41), (C) yohimbine and hydrocortisone (n = 42) or (D) placebo only (n= 43) and participated in a dot-probe task with fearful and neutral faces in an fMRI scanner. RESULTS We found an attentional bias toward fearful faces across all groups and related neuronal activation in the left cuneus. We did not find any differences between experimental treatment groups in selective attention and its neuronal activation. DISCUSSION Our results provide evidence that fearful faces lead to an attentional bias with related neuronal activation in the left cuneus. We did not replicate formerly reported activation in the amygdala, intraparietal sulcus, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and thalamus. Suitability of the dot-probe task for fMRI studies and insignificant treatment effects are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Metz
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Medical Psychology, Luisenstraße 57, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Leon Mengering
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin 12203, Germany
| | - Renée Lipka
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin 12203, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Catarina Rosada
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin 12203, Germany
| | - Christian Otte
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin 12203, Germany
| | - Hauke Heekeren
- Universität Hamburg, Mittelweg 177, Hamburg 20148, Germany
| | - Katja Wingenfeld
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, Berlin 12203, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Elvin OM, Modecki KL, Waters AM. An Expanded Conceptual Framework for Understanding Irritability in Childhood: The Role of Cognitive Control Processes. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2024; 27:381-406. [PMID: 38856946 PMCID: PMC11222227 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-024-00489-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Children prone to irritability experience significant functional impairments and internalising and externalising problems. Contemporary models have sought to elucidate the underlying mechanisms in irritability, such as aberrant threat and reward biases to improve interventions. However, the cognitive control processes that underlie threat (e.g., attention towards threats) and reward (e.g., attention towards reward-related cues) biases and the factors which influence the differential activation of positive and negative valence systems and thus leading to maladaptive activation of cognitive control processes (i.e., proactive and reactive control) are unclear. Thus, we aim to integrate extant theoretical and empirical research to elucidate the cognitive control processes underlying threat and reward processing that contribute to irritability in middle childhood and provide a guiding framework for future research and treatment. We propose an expanded conceptual framework of irritability that includes broad intraindividual and environmental vulnerability factors and propose proximal 'setting' factors that activate the negative valence and positive valence systems and proactive and reactive cognitive control processes which underpin the expression and progression of irritability. We consider the implications of this expanded conceptualisation of irritability and provide suggestions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Elvin
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kathryn L Modecki
- Centre for Mental Health and School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia & Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
| | - Allison M Waters
- Centre for Mental Health and School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mount Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
MacSweeney N, Louvet P, Zafar S, Chan SWY, Kwong ASF, Lawrie SM, Romaniuk L, Whalley HC. Keeping up with the kids: the value of co-production in the study of irritability in youth depression and its underlying neural circuitry. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1124940. [PMID: 37397127 PMCID: PMC10310302 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1124940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Irritability is a core symptom of adolescent depression, characterized by an increased proneness to anger or frustration. Irritability in youth is associated with future mental health problems and impaired social functioning, suggesting that it may be an early indicator of emotion regulation difficulties. Adolescence is a period during which behavior is significantly impacted by one's environment. However, existing research on the neural basis of irritability typically use experimental paradigms that overlook the social context in which irritability occurs. Here, we bring together current findings on irritability in adolescent depression and the associated neurobiology and highlight directions for future research. Specifically, we emphasize the importance of co-produced research with young people as a means to improve the construct and ecological validity of research within the field. Ensuring that our research design and methodology accurately reflect to lives of young people today lays a strong foundation upon which to better understand adolescent depression and identify tractable targets for intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niamh MacSweeney
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Perrine Louvet
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Simal Zafar
- School of Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Stella W. Y. Chan
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Alex S. F. Kwong
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Lawrie
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Liana Romaniuk
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Heather C. Whalley
- Division of Psychiatry, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Generation Scotland, Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lee KS, Hagan CN, Hughes M, Cotter G, McAdam Freud E, Kircanski K, Leibenluft E, Brotman MA, Tseng WL. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Task-based fMRI Studies in Youths With Irritability. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 62:208-229. [PMID: 35944754 PMCID: PMC9892288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood irritability, operationalized as disproportionate and frequent temper tantrums and low frustration tolerance relative to peers, is a transdiagnostic symptom across many pediatric disorders. Studies using task-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to probe neural dysfunction in irritability have increased. However, an integrated review summarizing the published methods and synthesized fMRI results remains lacking. METHOD We conducted a systematic search using irritability terms and task functional neuroimaging in key databases in March 2021, and identified 30 studies for our systematic review. Sample characteristics and fMRI methods were summarized. A subset of 28 studies met the criteria for extracting coordinate-based data for quantitative meta-analysis. Ten activation-likelihood estimations were performed to examine neural convergence across irritability measures and fMRI task domains. RESULTS Systematic review revealed small sample sizes (median = 58, mean age range = 8-16 years) with heterogeneous sample characteristics, irritability measures, tasks, and analytical procedures. Meta-analyses found no evidence for neural activation convergence of irritability across neurocognitive functions related to emotional reactivity, cognitive control, and reward processing, or within each domain. Sensitivity analyses partialing out variances driven by heterogeneous tasks, irritability measures, stimulus types, and developmental ages all yielded null findings. Results were compared with a review on irritability-related structural anomalies from 11 studies. CONCLUSION The lack of neural convergence suggests a need for common, standardized irritability assessments and more homogeneous fMRI tasks. Thoughtfully designed fMRI studies probing commonly defined neurocognitive functions may be more fruitful to elucidate the neural mechanisms of irritability. Open science practices, data mining in large neuroscience databases, and standardized analytical methods promote meaningful collaboration in irritability research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ka Shu Lee
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Mina Hughes
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Eva McAdam Freud
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,University College London, United Kingdom, and Anna Freud National
Centre for Children and Families, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen HWB, Gardner ES, Clarkson T, Eaton NR, Wiggins JL, Leibenluft E, Jarcho JM. Bullying Perpetration and Victimization in Youth: Associations with Irritability and Anxiety. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022; 53:1075-1082. [PMID: 34024018 PMCID: PMC8711067 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01192-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Prior work on has demonstrated that irritability and anxiety are associated with bullying perpetration and victimization, respectively. Even though symptoms of irritability and anxiety often occur concurrently, few studies have tested their interactive effects on perpetration or victimization. The current study recruited 131 youths from a broader program of research that examines the pathophysiology and treatment of pediatric irritability and anxiety. Two moderation tests were performed to examine concurrent irritability and anxiety symptoms and their relation to perpetration and victimization of bullying. More severe anxiety was associated with greater victimization. However, more severe irritability was associated with, not just greater perpetration, but also greater victimization. An irritability-by-anxiety interaction demonstrated that youths with more severe irritability and lower levels of anxiety engaged in more perpetration. Our findings suggest a more nuanced approach to understanding how the commonly comorbid symptoms of irritability and anxiety interact in relation to peer-directed behavior in youths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Wei Bernie Chen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Wolf Hall Suite 108, 105 The Green, Newark, DE, 19716, USA.
| | | | - Tessa Clarkson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Jillian Lee Wiggins
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA,San Diego State University / University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA
| | - Ellen Leibenluft
- Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kryza-Lacombe M, Palumbo D, Wakschlag LS, Dougherty LR, Wiggins JL. Executive functioning moderates neural mechanisms of irritability during reward processing in youth. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2022; 323:111483. [PMID: 35561577 PMCID: PMC9829104 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric irritability is the most robust indicator of transdiagnostic psychopathology risk. It is associated with altered neural reward processing, including neural networks related to cognitive control, and better cognitive control has been hypothesized to mitigate irritability. We evaluated the relationship of executive functioning (EF) with irritability-related neural correlates of reward processing in youths with varying levels of irritability. Participants (N = 51, mean age=13.80 years, SD=1.94) completed a monetary incentive delay task during multiband fMRI acquisition. Irritability and EF were measured via the Affective Reactivity Index and the NIH Toolbox cognition battery, respectively. Whole-brain analyses, controlling for age, examined the moderating role of EF on irritability-related brain activation and connectivity (seeds: striatum, amygdala) during reward anticipation and performance feedback. Irritability-related neural patterns during reward processing depended on EF, in occipital areas during reward anticipation and limbic, frontal, and temporal networks during performance feedback. Higher irritability combined with higher EF was associated with neural patterns opposite to those observed for higher irritability with lower co-occurring EF. Although preliminary, findings suggest that EF may buffer irritability-related reward processing deficits. Additionally, individual differences in EF and their relation to irritability may be related to varied etiologic mechanisms of irritability with important implications for personalized prevention and intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kryza-Lacombe
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, United States.
| | - Danielle Palumbo
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, United States
| | - Lauren S Wakschlag
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, & Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, United States
| | - Lea R Dougherty
- University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, United States
| | - Jillian Lee Wiggins
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, United States; Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kryza-Lacombe M, Hernandez B, Owen C, Reynolds RC, Wakschlag LS, Dougherty LR, Wiggins JL. Neural mechanisms of reward processing in adolescent irritability. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:1241-1254. [PMID: 33462834 PMCID: PMC10171261 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Irritability is impairing and prevalent across pediatric psychiatric disorders and typical development, yet its neural mechanisms are largely unknown. This study evaluated the relation between adolescent irritability and reward-related brain function as a candidate neural mechanism. Adolescents from intervention-seeking families in the community (N = 52; mean age = 13.80, SD = 1.94) completed a monetary incentive delay task to assess reward anticipation and feedback (reward receipt and omission) during fMRI acquisition. Whole-brain analyses, controlling for age, examined brain activation and striatal and amygdala connectivity in relation to irritability. Irritability was measured using the parent- and youth-reported Affective Reactivity Index. Irritability was associated with altered reward processing-related activation and connectivity in multiple networks during reward anticipation and feedback, including increased striatal activation and altered ventral striatum connectivity with prefrontal areas. Our findings suggest that irritability is associated with altered neural patterns during reward processing and that aberrant prefrontal cortex-mediated top-down control may be related to irritability. These findings inform our understanding of the etiology of youth irritability and the development of mechanism-based interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kryza-Lacombe
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Brianna Hernandez
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cassidy Owen
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Richard C Reynolds
- Scientific and Statistical Computing Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lauren S Wakschlag
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine & Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lea R Dougherty
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Jillian L Wiggins
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|