Association Between Individual Differences in Heart Rate Variability, Aggressive Behaviours and Differences in Brain Structure in Adolescents With and Without Conduct Disorder

• In Event: Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Topic - Biological Processes: Neuroscience and Genetics

Abstract

Objective. Disrupted emotional regulation is commonly described in many psychiatric disorders, such as in children with Conduct Disorder (CD). While individual differences in heart rate variability (HRV) have been recently described potential bio- or transdiagnostic- markers of self-regulation skills (Beauchaine & Thayer, 2015), in adolescents with CD, these differences in HRV measures seem to be modulated by Callous Unemotional (CU) traits and/or internalising symptoms (Fanti, 2018). Furthermore, previous evidence suggests a link between HRV and reactive/proactive aggression (Beauchaine, Katkin, Strassberg, & Snarr, 2001). This study builds on previous results (Fehlbaum et al., 2016) to investigate the association between individual variations in HRV measures, aggression and differences in brain structure in adolescents with CD.
Methods: MRI and physiological data were collected from 45 adolescents with CD (35 F; Mage = 15.53 years, SDage = 1.40) and 45 typically developing adolescents (33 F; Mage = 15.11 years, SDage = 2.42). Physiological data was measured during a five-minute baseline condition using electrocardiography and impedance cardiography. Standardized questionnaires measuring interpersonal aggressive behaviour (RPQ), CU traits (ICU) and emotional regulation (ERQ) were administered. The analysis of the association between HRV and brain structure measures was conducted following previous analyses pipelines (Fehlbaum et al., 2016).
Results: Preliminary results indicate lower HRV in adolescents with CD compared to controls (only in 16-18 year olds). Exploratory neuroimaging results suggest a negative correlation across all participants between HRV and grey matter volumes in the amygdala, insula and prefrontal regions.
Conclusions: The association between HRV and neural correlates was only significant in the older (16-18 years old) adolescent group but not in the total sample of participants with CD, highlighting the crucial role of neurodevelopmental processes.

Feasibility of data analysis completion. All data has already been collected. The behavioural analysis is on its way and the neuroimaging analysis is based on already existing pipelines. Given the sample sizes all analyses are feasible to be completed before the start of the conference.

Group Authors

A. Tkalcec, A. Cubillo, N. Raschle, C. Freitag, A. Popma, G.Fairchild, S. de Brito & C. Stadler

Authors

• Antonia Tkalcec, Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel
  Presenting Author

• Ana Cubillo, Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nora Maria Raschle, Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zurich
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christine Freitag, Goethe University Frankfurt
  Non-Presenting Author

• Arne Popma
  Non-Presenting Author

• Graeme Fairchild, University of Bath
  Non-Presenting Author

• Stephane de Brito, University of Birmingham
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christina Stadler, Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel
  Non-Presenting Author