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Johns-Mead R, Vijayakumar N, Mulraney M, Melvin G, Anderson VA, Efron D, Silk TJ. The longitudinal relationship between socioemotional difficulties and irritability in ADHD. J Affect Disord 2024; 350:573-581. [PMID: 38244802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.151] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite higher rates of irritability and socioemotional symptoms in ADHD, consensus is lacking regarding their developmental relationship and whether it differs by ADHD status. This longitudinal study sought to evaluate how peer and emotional difficulties relate to irritability in ADHD and control groups. METHODS A community sample of 336 participants (45 % ADHD) were recruited for the Children's Attention Project. Participants completed the Affective Reactivity Index and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire's emotional and peer difficulties scales at baseline (mean age 10.5 years) and 18-month follow-up. Latent Change Score models assessed how emotional and peer difficulties related to irritability at baseline and longitudinally. RESULTS For both groups, more severe baseline difficulties were associated with higher concurrent irritability, and reductions in emotional and peer difficulties were associated with declining irritability. Baseline emotional difficulties predicted change in irritability for the ADHD group, while baseline peer difficulties predicted change in irritability for both groups. Baseline irritability did not predict change in emotional or peer difficulties for either. The ADHD group showed elevated irritability, emotional, and peer difficulties, and stronger baseline correlation between peer difficulties and irritability. LIMITATIONS Only two timepoints were captured, and associations with ADHD symptom severity and presentation were not investigated. Doing so may facilitate additional insights. CONCLUSIONS Change in irritability corresponded to change in socioemotional difficulties, and was driven by earlier levels of socioemotional difficulties. ADHD exacerbated aspects of the relationship between socioemotional difficulties and irritability. Socioemotional difficulties drive irritability, so may represent targets for clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Johns-Mead
- School of Psychology and the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Nandita Vijayakumar
- School of Psychology and the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Glenn Melvin
- School of Psychology and the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Vicki A Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daryl Efron
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tim J Silk
- School of Psychology and the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
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Bhide S, Efron D, Ukoumunne OC, Anderson V, Nicholson JM, Silk T, Hazell P, Gulenc A, Sciberras E. Family Functioning in Children With ADHD and Subthreshold ADHD: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study. J Atten Disord 2024; 28:480-492. [PMID: 38084374 PMCID: PMC10838481 DOI: 10.1177/10870547231217089] [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] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare family functioning over time for elementary school children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; N = 179) and subthreshold ADHD (ST-ADHD; N = 86), to children without ADHD (Control; N = 212). METHOD ADHD was assessed using the Conners 3 ADHD Index and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children IV. At baseline, 18-month follow-up and 36-month follow-up, parents completed measures assessing a range of family functioning domains. RESULTS At baseline, the ADHD group reported higher psychological distress, less parenting self-efficacy, less parenting consistency, and more stressful life events; and both groups reported poorer family quality of life (QoL) and greater parenting anger. Trajectories were largely similar to controls (i.e., stable over time), but unlike controls, ADHD and ST-ADHD groups showed lessening parent-partner support and parenting warmth, respectively; and both groups showed worsening aspects of family QoL. CONCLUSION Families of children with ADHD and ST-ADHD report persistently poor or worsening family functioning; highlighting a need for tailored psycho-social supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sampada Bhide
- School of Pychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Allied Health - Psychology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Daryl Efron
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Vicki Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jan M Nicholson
- Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Tim Silk
- School of Pychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Philip Hazell
- Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - Alisha Gulenc
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Emma Sciberras
- School of Pychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Johns‐Mead R, Vijayakumar N, Mulraney M, Melvin G, Youssef G, Sciberras E, Anderson VA, Nicholson JM, Efron D, Hazel P, Silk TJ. Categorical and dimensional approaches to the developmental relationship between ADHD and irritability. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:1422-1431. [PMID: 37170636 PMCID: PMC10952727 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and irritability commonly co-occur, and follow similar developmental trajectories from childhood to adolescence. Understanding of the developmental relationship between these co-occurrences is limited. This study provides a longitudinal assessment of how ADHD diagnostic status and symptom patterns predict change in irritability. METHODS A community sample of 337 participants (45.2% ADHD), recruited for the Childhood Attention Project, completed the Affective Reactivity Index (ARI) to measure irritability at baseline (mean age 10.5 years) and follow-up after 18-months. Latent change score models were used to assess how (a) baseline ADHD vs. control group status, (b) baseline symptom domain (inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity) and (c) longitudinal change in ADHD symptom severity predicted change in irritability. RESULTS Irritability was significantly higher among the ADHD group than controls; however, change in irritability over time did not differ between groups. When assessed across the entire cohort, change in irritability was predicted by higher symptom count in the hyperactive-impulsive domain, but not the inattentive domain. Greater declines in ADHD symptoms over time significantly predicted greater declines in irritability. Baseline ADHD symptom severity was found to significantly predict change in irritability; however, baseline irritability did not significantly predict change in ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS ADHD symptoms-particularly hyperactive-impulsive symptoms-predict the degree and trajectory of irritability during childhood and adolescence, even when symptoms are below diagnostic thresholds. The use of longitudinal, dimensional and symptom domain-specific measures provides additional insight into this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Johns‐Mead
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of PsychologyDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
| | - Nandita Vijayakumar
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of PsychologyDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
| | - Melissa Mulraney
- Institute for Social NeuroscienceISN PsychologyIvanhoeVic.Australia
| | - Glenn Melvin
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of PsychologyDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
| | - George Youssef
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of PsychologyDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
| | - Emma Sciberras
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of PsychologyDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Vicki A. Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVic.Australia
- The Royal Children's HospitalMelbourneVic.Australia
- Department of PaediatricsUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
| | | | - Daryl Efron
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVic.Australia
- The Royal Children's HospitalMelbourneVic.Australia
- Department of PaediatricsUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Philip Hazel
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Tim J. Silk
- Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of PsychologyDeakin UniversityGeelongVic.Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVic.Australia
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Dipnall LM, Hourani D, Darling S, Anderson V, Sciberras E, Silk TJ. Fronto-parietal white matter microstructure associated with working memory performance in children with ADHD. Cortex 2023; 166:243-257. [PMID: 37406409 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.03.015] [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: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with many functional impairments thought to be underpinned by difficulties in executive function domains such as working memory. The superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) plays an integral role in the development of working memory in neurotypical children. Neuroimaging research suggests reduced white matter organization of the SLF may contribute to working memory difficulties commonly seen in ADHD. This study aimed to examine the relationship between white matter organization of the SLF and working memory in children with ADHD. METHODS We examined the association of tract volume and apparent fibre density (AFD) of the SLF with working memory in children with ADHD (n = 64) and controls (n = 58) aged 9-11years. Children completed a computerized spatial n-back task and underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Constrained spherical deconvolution-based tractography was used to construct the three branches of the SLF bilaterally and examine volume and AFD of the SLF. RESULTS Regression analyses revealed children with ADHD exhibited poorer working memory, and lower volume and AFD of the left SLF-II compared to healthy controls. There was also an association between reaction time and variability (RT and RT-V) and the left SLF-II. Further analyses revealed volume of the left SLF-II mediated the relationship between ADHD and working memory performance (RT and RT-V). DISCUSSION These findings add to the current body of ADHD literature, revealing the potential role of frontoparietal white matter in working memory difficulties in ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danah Hourani
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Simone Darling
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Vicki Anderson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emma Sciberras
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Timothy J Silk
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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Kazda L, McGeechan K, Bell K, Thomas R, Barratt A. Increased diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder despite stable hyperactive/inattentive behaviours: evidence from two birth cohorts of Australian children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:1140-1148. [PMID: 36065471 PMCID: PMC10952655 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13700] [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] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, ADHD diagnoses have increased substantially and there is concern that this trend does not necessarily reflect improved detection of cases but that overdiagnosis may be occurring. We directly compared ADHD diagnoses with ADHD-related behaviours and looked for changes across time among Australian children in a large, population-based prospective cohort study. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, including 4,699 children born 1999/2000 (cohort 1) and 4,425 children born 2003/2004 (cohort 2), followed from 4 to 13 years of age. We compared pre-diagnosis parent-reported hyperactive/inattentive behaviour scores between newly diagnosed (incident cases) and undiagnosed children and fitted Cox's proportional hazards regression models to examine the relationship between birth cohorts 1 and 2 and the risk of incident ADHD diagnosis. RESULTS Cumulative incident ADHD diagnoses increased from 4.6% in cohort 1 (born in 1999/2000) to 5.6% in cohort 2 (born in 2003/2004), while hyperactive/inattentive behaviour scores remained steady. Among ADHD diagnosed children, 26.5% (88/334) recorded pre-diagnosis behaviours in the normal range, 27.6% (n = 92) had borderline scores and 45.8% (n = 153) scored within the clinical range. Children born in 2003/2004 were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared with those born in 1999/2000 (aHR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.06-1.67, p = .012), regardless of their ADHD behaviour score (p = .972). CONCLUSIONS Diagnostic increases were not driven by rises in hyperactive/inattentive behaviours. A quarter of all children with an ADHD diagnosis recorded pre-diagnosis behaviours within the normal range. The increased likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD for children from the later birth cohort was observed for children across the full range of ADHD-related behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Kazda
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Kevin McGeechan
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Katy Bell
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Rae Thomas
- Institute for Evidence‐Based HealthcareBond UniversityGold CoastQldAustralia
| | - Alexandra Barratt
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
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Kazda L, McGeechan K, Bell K, Thomas R, Barratt A. Association of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis With Adolescent Quality of Life. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2236364. [PMID: 36227598 PMCID: PMC9561944 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.36364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Appropriate diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can improve some short-term outcomes in children and adolescents, but little is known about the association of a diagnosis with their quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE To compare QOL in adolescents with and without an ADHD diagnosis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study followed an emulated target trial design using prospective, observational data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a representative, population-based prospective cohort study with biennial data collection from 2006 to 2018 with 8 years of follow-up (ages 6-7 to 14-15 years). Propensity score matching was used to ensure children with and without ADHD diagnosis were well matched on a wide range of variables, including hyperactive/inattentive (H/I) behaviors. Eligible children were born in 1999 to 2000 or 2003 to 2004 and did not have a previous ADHD diagnosis. All incident ADHD cases were matched with controls. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to January 2022. EXPOSURES Incident parent-reported ADHD diagnosis at age 6 to 7, 8 to 9, 10 to 11, 12 to 13, or 14 to 15. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Quality of life at age 14 to 15 was measured with Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) and 8 other prespecified, self-reported measures mapped to the World Health Organization's QOL domains. Pooled regression models were fitted for each outcome, with 95% CIs and P values calculated using bootstrapping to account for matching and repeat observations. RESULTS Of 8643 eligible children, a total of 393 adolescents had an ADHD diagnosis (284 [72.2%] boys; mean [SD] age, 10.03 [0.30] years; mean [SD] H/I Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire score, 5.05 [2.29]) and were age-, sex-, and H/I score-matched with 393 adolescents without ADHD diagnosis at time zero. Compared with adolescents without diagnosis, those with an ADHD diagnosis reported similar QOL on CHU9D (mean difference, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.01; P = .10), general health (mean difference, 0.11; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.27; P = .15), happiness (mean difference, -0.18; 95% CI, -0.37 to 0.00; P = .05), and peer trust (mean difference, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.00 to 1.30; P = .05). Diagnosed adolescents had worse psychological sense of school membership (mean difference, -2.58; 95% CI, -1.13 to -4.06; P < .001), academic self-concept (mean difference, -0.14; 95% CI, -0.02 to -0.26; P = .02), and self-efficacy (mean difference, -0.20; 95% CI, -0.05 to -0.33; P = .007); displayed more negative social behaviors (mean difference, 1.56; 95% CI, 0.55 to 2.66; P = .002); and were more likely to harm themselves (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.49 to 4.37; P < .001) than adolescents without diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, ADHD diagnosis was not associated with any self-reported improvements in adolescents' QOL compared with adolescents with similar levels of H/I behaviors but no ADHD diagnosis. ADHD diagnosis was associated with worse scores in some outcomes, including significantly increased risk of self-harm. A large, randomized clinical trial with long-term follow-up is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Kazda
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kevin McGeechan
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katy Bell
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rae Thomas
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Alexandra Barratt
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Weiss MD. A Paradigm for Targeting Functional Impairment as an Outcome in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081014. [PMID: 36009077 PMCID: PMC9405930 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although functional impairment is required for a diagnosis in the DSM 5, the time frame and definition of functional impairment is ambiguous. We present a conceptual review clarifying the difference between functional impairment as a stable trait representing strength or disability in various domains, and functional impairment as secondary to emotional or behavior problems, which is a state sensitive to change with treatment intervention. Functional impairment as a measure of treatment outcome includes both change from baseline and status at the endpoint of treatment. When using a validated measure of function, functional improvement can be defined as the percentage of patients who achieve the Minimal Important Clinical Difference (MCID) and functional remission as the percentage of patients who normalize at treatment endpoint. True treatment remission should be defined as both symptomatic and functional remission.
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Zendarski N, Guo S, Sciberras E, Efron D, Quach J, Winter L, Bisset M, Middeldorp CM, Coghill D. Examining the Educational Gap for Children with ADHD and Subthreshold ADHD. J Atten Disord 2022; 26:282-295. [PMID: 33317376 DOI: 10.1177/1087054720972790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study examined the impact of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on core educational outcomes in two large community cohorts of Australian school children. METHOD Academic (reading and numeracy) and non-academic (school engagement, attendance, peer victimization, and parental expectations) outcomes were compared between children with ADHD, subthreshold ADHD, and controls when children were in grade 5 (M age = 10.5). Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children birth cohort (LSAC; N = 3,540) and the Children's Attention Project (CAP; N = 356). RESULTS Both subthreshold ADHD and ADHD groups had poorer outcomes on all measures, with medium effects sizes. Differences were not evident between subthreshold ADHD and ADHD groups. CONCLUSIONS Educational outcomes examined in this study highlight the educational risk for upperprimary school children with ADHD or subthreshold ADHD, in comparison to their peers. Monitoring these outcomes is necessary to inform policy, practice, and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardia Zendarski
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shuaijun Guo
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emma Sciberras
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Daryl Efron
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne Australia
| | - Jon Quach
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Matthew Bisset
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Christel M Middeldorp
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane Australia
| | - David Coghill
- The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
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Executive Functioning and Emotion Regulation in Children with and without ADHD. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2021; 50:721-735. [PMID: 34762251 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00883-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties with emotion regulation affect the majority of youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and predict greater functional impairment than ADHD symptoms alone. Deficits in executive functioning are also present for most children with ADHD, and have been linked with emotion regulation difficulties in both clinical and neurotypical populations throughout development. The current study was the first to assess all three core executive functions (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting) simultaneously in a clinically-diverse sample of children with and without ADHD and common comorbidities and investigate the extent to which they uniquely predict emotion dysregulation. A sample of 151 children ages 8-13 years (M = 10.36, SD = 1.52; 52 girls; 70.2% White/Non-Hispanic) were assessed using a criterion battery of executive functioning tasks, teacher-reported ADHD symptoms, and parent-reported emotion regulation. Results of the bias-corrected, bootstrapped conditional effects path model revealed that better-developed working memory predicted better emotion regulation (β = 0.23) and fewer ADHD symptoms (β = -0.21 to -0.37), that ADHD symptoms (β = -0.18 to -0.20) independently predicted emotion dysregulation, and that working memory exerted indirect effects on emotion regulation through both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity (β = 0.04-0.07). Sensitivity analyses indicated that these effects were generally robust to control for age, sex, executive function interrelations, and inclusion/exclusion of children with co-occurring ASD. These findings underscore the importance of working memory (relative to inhibitory control and set shifting) and its relations with ADHD symptoms for understanding children's emotion regulation skills, and may help explain the limited efficacy of first-line ADHD treatments, which do not target working memory, for improving emotion regulation skills.
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Comparison of Emotional Dysregulation Features in Cyclothymia and Adult ADHD. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57050489. [PMID: 34066126 PMCID: PMC8151096 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57050489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Emotional dysregulation is central to the problem of the overlap between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cyclothymia. The aim of the study was to evaluate comorbidity rates between ADHD and cyclothymic disorder and to explore demographic and clinical differences among the groups, focusing on affective temperament and emotional dysregulation. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty-five outpatients attending the Second Psychiatry Unit at the Santa Chiara University Hospital (Pisa) were consecutively recruited: 80 were diagnosed with ADHD, 60 with cyclothymic disorder, and 25 with both conditions. Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-M) and the 40-item version of Reactivity, Intensity, Polarity, and Stability questionnaire (RI-PoSt-40) were administered. Results: Cyclothymic patients were more frequently female and older with respect to the ADHD groups. Both comorbid and non-comorbid ADHD patients showed significantly lower educational attainment and more frequently had substance use disorders. Panic disorder was common in non-comorbid cyclothymic patients, who showed significantly higher rates of familial panic disorder, major depressive disorder and suicide attempts in comparison with patients only diagnosed with ADHD. Cyclothymic patients without ADHD were also characterized by fewer hyperthymic temperamental traits, higher depressive and anxious dispositions, and a greater negative emotionality. No significant differences among groups were observed for cyclothymic temperament and overall negative emotional dysregulation, but comorbid patients with both conditions scored the highest in these subscales. This group also showed significantly higher affective instability with respect to ADHD patients without cyclothymia and was less frequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder type II than patients from both the other groups. Conclusions: ADHD and cyclothymia often co-occur and show similar levels of emotional dysregulation. However, cyclothymic patients may be more prone to negative emotionality in clinical settings. Subjects with “sunny” cyclothymic features might escape the attention of clinicians unless ADHD is present.
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