Neuropsychological Functioning and Temperament Traits in a Czech Sample of Children and Adolescents at Familial Risk of Bipolar Disorder

Sex differences across developmental domains among children with a familial risk of severe mental disorders

BACKGROUND

Sex differences in brain structure and neurodevelopment occur in non-clinical populations. We investigated whether sex had a similar effect on developmental domains amongst boys and girls with a familial risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ), bipolar disorder (FHR-BP), and controls.

METHODS

Through Danish registries, we identified 522 7-year-old children (242 girls) with FHR-SZ, FHR-BP, and controls. We assessed their performance within the domains of neurocognition, motor function, language, social cognition, social behavior, psychopathology, and home environment.

RESULTS

FHR-SZ boys compared with FHR-SZ girls had a higher proportion of disruptive behavior and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and exhibited lower performance in manual dexterity, balance, and emotion recognition. No sex differences were found between boys and girls within FHR-BP group. Compared with controls, both FHR-SZ boys and FHR-SZ girls showed impaired processing speed and working memory, had lower levels of global functioning, and were more likely to live in an inadequate home environment. Compared with control boys, FHR-SZ boys showed impaired manual dexterity, social behavior, and social responsiveness, and had a higher proportion of ADHD and disruptive behavior disorder diagnoses. Stress and adjustment disorders were more common in FHR-BP boys compared with control boys. We found no differences between FHR-BP girls and control girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Impairment within neurodevelopmental domains associated within FHR-SZ boys v. FHR-SZ girls was most evident among boys, whereas no sex differences were found within the FHR-BP group (FHR-BP boys v. FHR-BP girls). FHR-SZ boys exhibited the highest proportion of early developmental impairments.

Executive functions in 7-year-old children of parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder compared with controls: The Danish High Risk and Resilience Study-VIA 7, a population-based cohort study

Cognitive impairments are strongly associated with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) with executive functions (EF) impairments as a likely key feature. Studies of everyday behavior rated EF in young children at familial high risk of SZ (FHR-SZ) are scarce and, to our knowledge, non-existent in young children at familial high risk of BP (FHR-BP). We aimed to compare everyday behavior-rated EF of FHR-SZ, FHR-BP, and control children. A nationwide population-based cohort of 522 7-year-old children with parents diagnosed with either SZ (N = 202) or BP (N = 120) and matched controls (N = 200) were recruited using the Danish national registries. The children's EF were assessed with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions questionnaire rated by primary caregivers and teachers. According to primary caregiver assessments, FHR-SZ children displayed widespread EF impairments and had an odds ratio of 3.7 (2.0-6.9) of having clinically significant global EF impairments compared to controls. FHR-BP children were most severely impaired regarding EF related to emotional control and had an odds ratio of 2.5 (1.2-5.1) of clinically significant global EF impairments compared to controls. Teacher assessments were overall comparable to primary caregiver assessments but teachers rated more difficulties in the FHR-SZ group than primary caregivers. Already at age 7, children with a parental history of SZ or BP displayed significant impairments of EF in everyday-life situations. FHR-SZ children displayed widespread significant impairments of EF, whereas FHR-BP children were most severely impaired on emotional control. Clinicians should be aware of potential EF impairments in FHR children.

Temperament Profiles of Children and Adolescents with Psychotic and Mood Disorders

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric disorders are often linked to dysfunctions within neurotransmitter systems, and the same systems play a role in healthy temperaments. Development of a common bio-behavioural taxonomy based on functionality of neurotransmitter systems suggests examining temperament profiles in patients with various psychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVE

(1) To investigate temperament profiles in two age groups of children with delusional disorders; (2) to investigate temperament profiles in adolescents with mood disorders; (3) to investigate temperament profiles in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) children.

METHODS

Sample: in total 171 participants (M/F = 91/80), healthy children and teenagers (volunteers); two age groups of children with psychotic disorders; teens with mood disorders (clients of the Federal Mental Health Center) and healthy IVF. Parents of participants completed a test based on the neurochemical model Functional Ensemble of Temperament (FET).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

(1) Both age groups of children with psychotic disorders had significantly lower scores on the scales of physical endurance, tempo, plasticity, and self-satisfaction, in comparison to healthy controls; the psychotic group aged 5-11 had also lower scores on the impulsivity scale, whereas the psychotic group 12-17 had lower scores on the social endurance and social tempo scales and higher neuroticism. (2) Teens with mood disorders had lower scores on the self-confidence-satisfaction scale and higher scores on the impulsivity scale, in comparison to controls. (3) No difference between IVF and naturally conceived children were found. The results show the benefits of using the FET framework for structuring the correspondence between psychiatric disorders and temperament as it differentiates between social versus physical aspects of behaviour and orientational versus executive aspects.