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Gravråkmo S. Associations between executive functions, intelligence and adaptive behaviour in children and adolescents with mild intellectual disability. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES : JOID 2023; 27:715-727. [PMID: 35543122 PMCID: PMC10467003 DOI: 10.1177/17446295221095951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of everyday executive functions in relation to intelligence and adaptive behaviour in children and adolescents with mild intellectual disability. Method: A group of children and adolescents, previously diagnosed with mild intellectual disability were assessed according to intelligence, everyday executive functions and adaptive behaviour. The association between everyday executive functions and intelligence was examined, and it was explored whether intelligence or everyday executive functions would best predict adaptive behaviour. Results: Adaptive behaviour was significantly predicted by executive functions, but not by intelligence. Nor was intelligence significantly related to everyday executive functions in this group. Conclusions: Although fundamental in diagnosing intellectual disability, intelligence cannot predict adaptive behaviour. Assessing everyday executive functions and adaptive behaviour, as well as acknowledging the strong association between them, provides valuable information in the process of optimizing developmental support for children and adolescents with mild intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sissel Gravråkmo
- Regional Centre for Habilitation at the Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Habilitation Services at the Children´s Clinic, St. Olav’s Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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van Oort J, Llera A, Kohn N, Mei T, Collard RM, Duyser FA, Vrijsen JN, Beckmann CF, Schene AH, Fernández G, Tendolkar I, van Eijndhoven PFP. Brain structure and function link to variation in biobehavioral dimensions across the psychopathological continuum. eLife 2023; 12:e85006. [PMID: 37334965 PMCID: PMC10519708 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In line with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) , we set out to investigate the brain basis of psychopathology within a transdiagnostic, dimensional framework. We performed an integrative structural-functional linked independent component analysis to study the relationship between brain measures and a broad set of biobehavioral measures in a sample (n = 295) with both mentally healthy participants and patients with diverse non-psychotic psychiatric disorders (i.e. mood, anxiety, addiction, and neurodevelopmental disorders). To get a more complete understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms, we used gray and white matter measures for brain structure and both resting-state and stress scans for brain function. The results emphasize the importance of the executive control network (ECN) during the functional scans for the understanding of transdiagnostic symptom dimensions. The connectivity between the ECN and the frontoparietal network in the aftermath of stress was correlated with symptom dimensions across both the cognitive and negative valence domains, and also with various other health-related biological and behavioral measures. Finally, we identified a multimodal component that was specifically associated with the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The involvement of the default mode network, precentral gyrus, and thalamus across the different modalities of this component may reflect the broad functional domains that may be affected in ASD, like theory of mind, motor problems, and sensitivity to sensory stimuli, respectively. Taken together, the findings from our extensive, exploratory analyses emphasize the importance of a dimensional and more integrative approach for getting a better understanding of the brain basis of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper van Oort
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Alberto Llera
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Nils Kohn
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Ting Mei
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Rose M Collard
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Fleur A Duyser
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Janna N Vrijsen
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Pro Persona Mental Health Care, Depression Expertise CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Christian F Beckmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
- Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Aart H Schene
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Guillén Fernández
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Indira Tendolkar
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Philip FP van Eijndhoven
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CentreNijmegenNetherlands
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Greiner de Magalhães C, Pitts CH, Mervis CB. Executive function as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2: children and adolescents with Williams syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:94-107. [PMID: 34110652 PMCID: PMC8660954 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Difficulties with executive functions (EF) are very common among individuals with Williams syndrome (WS). To characterise the pattern of relative strengths and weaknesses in EF for children and adolescents with WS, we considered the performance of a large sample on the parent version of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2). Associations between distinct components of EF and adaptive behaviour, behaviour problems and intellectual ability were investigated. The concurrent effects of components of behaviour regulation and emotion regulation on attention problems and anxiety problems also were evaluated. METHODS Participants were 308 6-17-year-olds with genetically confirmed classic WS deletions. Parent report of EF was measured by the BRIEF-2 questionnaire. Most participants (223/308) completed the Differential Ability Scales-II as a measure of intellectual ability. The parents of these individuals also completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the interview form of the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised. RESULTS As a group, the participants evidenced considerable parent-reported EF difficulty. A profile of relative strength and weakness was found at the index level, with performance on both the Behavior Regulation Index and the Emotion Regulation Index significantly better than performance on the Cognitive Regulation Index. Within each index, a statistically significant pattern of relative strength and weakness also was identified. Difficulties with behaviour regulation and emotion regulation were related to both behaviour problems and adaptive behaviour limitations. Higher inflexibility and more difficulty with self-monitoring were associated with lower overall intellectual ability. Difficulty with inhibition was uniquely associated with attention problems, and inflexibility was uniquely associated with anxiety problems. CONCLUSIONS Executive function difficulties are highly prevalent among children and adolescents with WS and are associated with adaptive behaviour limitations, both internalising and externalising behaviour problems and more limited intellectual ability. These results highlight the importance of designing and delivering research-based interventions to improve the EF of children and adolescents with WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Greiner de Magalhães
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - C H Pitts
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - C B Mervis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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Miezah D, Porter M, Rossi A, Kazzi C, Batchelor J, Reeve J. Cognitive profile of young children with Williams syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2021; 65:784-794. [PMID: 34096129 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is very little research on the cognitive profile of young children with Williams syndrome (WS). METHOD The present study utilised the Differential Ability Scales - Second Edition to examine the early cognitive abilities of 22 young children with WS (aged 3.98 to 7.70 years, 10 male and 12 female participants). RESULTS Overall, IQ ranged from 38 (severely impaired) to 81.00 (low average). Consistent with Mervis et al. who looked at an older sample, over half (59.08%) of our young WS sample showed a significant and abnormal weakness in spatial ability relative to verbal ability. Moreover, 81.82% showed a significant and clinically unusual weakness in spatial ability relative to nonverbal reasoning ability. At the subtest level, only 4.55% of our sample showed a significant strength in naming vocabulary compared with verbal comprehension, while 13.64% showed a significant weakness in naming vocabulary relative to verbal comprehension. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show cognitive heterogeneity, consistent with the literature on older children and adults with WS. There were variable levels of intellect and variable patterns of cognitive strength and weakness across both index and subtest scores. Findings highlight the need for individual assessment and management of young children with WS but also indicate that for the majority of WS individuals spatial skills are indeed an area of significant and abnormal weakness and should be a focus for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Miezah
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M Porter
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - A Rossi
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - C Kazzi
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J Batchelor
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J Reeve
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Mortillo M, Mulle JG. A cross-comparison of cognitive ability across 8 genomic disorders. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 68:106-116. [PMID: 34082144 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Genomic disorders result from rearrangement of the human genome. Most genomic disorders are caused by copy number variants (CNV), deletions or duplications of several hundred kilobases. Many CNV loci are associated with autism, schizophrenia, and most commonly, intellectual disability (ID). However, there is little comparison of cognitive ability measures across these CNV disorders. This study aims to understand whether existing data can be leveraged for a cross-comparison of cognitive ability among multiple CNV. We found there is a lack of harmonization among assessment instruments and little standardization for reporting summary data across studies. Despite these limitations, we identified a differential impact of CNV loci on cognitive ability. Our data suggest that future cross-comparisons of CNV disorders will reveal meaningful differences across the phenotypic spectrum, especially if standardized phenotypic assessment is achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mortillo
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer G Mulle
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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Miezah D, Porter M, Batchelor J, Boulton K, Campos Veloso G. Cognitive abilities in Williams syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2020; 104:103701. [PMID: 32554266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The current study utilized a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to investigate cognitive abilities in a sample of 49 WS individuals (25 male) aged 6-39 years. Age effects were also investigated by splitting the sample into child and adult groups. Cognitive heterogeneity was found on the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities, Australian Adaptation (WJ-III COG) (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001), with cognitive abilities ranging from profoundly impaired to superior and individualized profiles of strength and weakness varying considerably. Overall, findings supported previous research showing strengths in auditory processing and phonemic awareness. The weakest performance, on average, was in processing speed, attention, delayed associative learning and executive functioning capabilities. Visual-spatial functioning was not a weakness overall, neither was nonverbal reasoning. Chronological age did not relate significantly to cognitive abilities. Findings highlight the need for individual assessment and management of WS individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Miezah
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Melanie Porter
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | | | - Kelsie Boulton
- Psychology Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Ng-Cordell E, Hanley M, Kelly A, Riby DM. Anxiety in Williams Syndrome: The Role of Social Behaviour, Executive Functions and Change Over Time. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:796-808. [PMID: 29124472 PMCID: PMC5847160 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3357-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is a prevalent mental health issue for individuals with Williams syndrome (WS). Relatively little is known about the developmental course of anxiety, or how it links with core features of WS, namely social and executive functioning (EF). In this study, parent-reports of anxiety were compared across a 4-year period (N = 17), and links between anxiety, social and EF were explored from concurrent parent-reports (N = 26). Results indicated that high anxiety persisted over time, and anxiety was related to impairments in both social and executive functioning. Importantly, results indicated that impairments in EFs may drive the links between anxiety and social functioning. This timely investigation provides new insights into anxiety in WS and highlights potential areas for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Ng-Cordell
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK.,Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mary Hanley
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK. .,Psychology Department, Science Laboratories, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. .,Centre for Developmental Disorders, Durham University, Durham, UK.
| | - Alyssa Kelly
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Deborah M Riby
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK.,Centre for Developmental Disorders, Durham University, Durham, UK
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Yamada M, Landes RD, Hida A, Ishihara K, Krull KR. Effects of Demographic Variables on Subjective Neurocognitive Complaints Using the Neurocognitive Questionnaire (NCQ) in an Aged Japanese Population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16030421. [PMID: 30717137 PMCID: PMC6388377 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16030421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In an aged Japanese population, we investigated associations of demographic variables with subjective neurocognitive complaints using the Neurocognitive Questionnaire (NCQ). METHODS Participants (N = 649) provided answers to the NCQ in both 2011 and 2013. Using fully-completed NCQs from 503 participants in 2011, we identified latent factors of subjective neurocognitive complaints using exploratory factor analysis; then examined associations of demographic variables with the identified factors for all 649 participants over the two years. We also examined changes in factor scores over the 2-year period. RESULTS We identified four factors representing 20 of the 25 NCQ items and labelled them metacognition, emotional regulation, motivation/organization, and processing speed. In a regression model using all participants, we observed linear deterioration with age on emotional regulation and linear-quadratic deterioration with age on the other factors. Less education was associated with more problems for all factors, but we detected no evidence of interaction between age and education. In 314 participants completing both assessments, paired t-tests comparing the 2013 to 2011 responses corroborated the regression results, except for emotional regulation. CONCLUSIONS On the NCQ, older age and less education were associated with more subjective neurocognitive complaints. This is compatible with the association of the same factors with objective cognition and suggests that subjective cognitive complaints complement objective cognition as a prodrome of non-normative cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Yamada
- Departments of Clinical Studies and Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan.
| | - Reid D Landes
- Departments of Clinical Studies and Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan.
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
| | - Ayumi Hida
- Departments of Clinical Studies and Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan.
| | - Kayoko Ishihara
- Departments of Clinical Studies and Statistics, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan.
| | - Kevin R Krull
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA.
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Albein-Urios N, Youssef GJ, Kirkovski M, Enticott PG. Autism Spectrum Traits Linked with Reduced Performance on Self-Report Behavioural Measures of Cognitive Flexibility. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 48:2506-2515. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3503-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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10
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Social Attention, Joint Attention and Sustained Attention in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Williams Syndrome: Convergences and Divergences. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 47:1866-1877. [PMID: 28349363 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3106-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
There is limited knowledge on shared and syndrome-specific attentional profiles in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Williams syndrome (WS). Using eye-tracking, we examined attentional profiles of 35 preschoolers with ASD, 22 preschoolers with WS and 20 typically developing children across social and non-social dimensions of attention. Children with ASD and those with WS presented with overlapping deficits in spontaneous visual engagement with the target of others' attention and in sustained attention. Children with ASD showed syndrome-specific abnormalities in monitoring and following a person's referential gaze, as well as a lack of preferential attention to social stimuli. Children with ASD and WS present with shared as well as syndrome-specific abnormalities across social and non-social dimensions of attention.
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Pitts CH, Klein-Tasman BP, Osborne JW, Mervis CB. Predictors of specific phobia in children with Williams syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2016; 60:1031-42. [PMID: 27545817 PMCID: PMC5026631 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific phobia (SP) is the most common anxiety disorder among children with Williams syndrome (WS); prevalence rates derived from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-based diagnostic interviews range from 37% to 56%. We evaluated the effects of gender, age, intellectual abilities and/or behaviour regulation difficulties on the likelihood that a child with WS would be diagnosed with SP. METHODS A total of 194 6-17 year-olds with WS were evaluated. To best characterise the relations between the predictors and the probability of a SP diagnosis, we explored not only possible linear effects but also curvilinear effects. RESULTS No gender differences were detected. As age increased, the likelihood of receiving a SP diagnosis decreased. As IQ increased, the probability of receiving a SP diagnosis also decreased. Behaviour regulation difficulties were the strongest predictor of a positive diagnosis. A quadratic relation was detected: The probability of receiving a SP diagnosis gradually rose as behaviour regulation difficulties increased. However, once behaviour regulation difficulties approached the clinical range, the probability of receiving a SP diagnosis asymptoted at a high level. CONCLUSION Children with behaviour regulation difficulties in or just below the clinical range were at the greatest risk of developing SP. These findings highlight the value of large samples and the importance of evaluating for nonlinear effects to provide accurate model specification when characterising relations among a dependent variable and possible predictors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Pitts
- University of Louisville, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Louisville, KY, USA.
| | - B P Klein-Tasman
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - J W Osborne
- Clemson University, Mathematical Sciences, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - C B Mervis
- University of Louisville, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Louisville, KY, USA
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