Poster #18 - Prospective Predictions of Adolescent Psychopathology from Childhood Disposition: Moderation by Executive Function

• In Event: Poster Session 19

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with internalizing and externalizing problems, which exacerbate predictions of negative outcomes. Given its etiologic, developmental, and clinical heterogeneity, there is a need to rigorously characterize the origins and development of youth with ADHD. Crucially, extant evidence suggests that dispositional dimensions (i.e., negative emotionality [NE]) are causal risk factors for psychopathology. Moreover, transdiagnostic constructs, specifically executive functioning (EF), is increasingly recognized to affect youth socio-emotional development. Considering the central role of EF regarding youth socio-emotional functioning, biologically plausible regulatory processes associated with EF may moderate developmental outcomes among youth with varying dispositions. Still, the objective roles of EF and disposition with later psychological functioning remain unclear. Few methodologically rigorous, longitudinal studies examining these associations among well-characterized developmental populations exist. This project aims to evaluate the predictive validity of NE with respect to adolescent psychological functioning in the context of individual differences in EF among youth with and without ADHD. Children (N=230) with (n=120) and without (n=110) a DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD and their families participated in three lab-based study visits over approximately six years (Baseline Age=5-10 years). At baseline, child NE was derived from the clinician-administered, parent-interview Child and Adolescent Dispositions Scale (CADS) and children completed lab-based EF tasks. Baseline inhibitory control was estimated by the children’s version of the Golden Stroop task, working memory measured by the WISC-V Backwards Digit Span, and set-shifting by the Trail Making B test. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher Report Form (TRF) and Youth Self Report (YSR) measured adolescent psychopathology at the final follow-up visit. Results suggested that parent-reported adolescent psychopathology is associated with childhood NE above and beyond all EF domains (set-shifting: β=0.09, p<.001, CI [0.04, 0.14]; working memory: β=0.11, p<.001, CI [0.06, 0.16]; inhibitory control: β=0.11, p<.001, CI [0.06, 0.16]. Additionally, the conditional relation between childhood NE and set-shifting, but not working memory or inhibitory control, on parent-reported adolescent psychopathology closely approached significance (β = -.038, p=.056, CI [-.078, 0.001]). Further probing of this interaction indicated that NE was significantly associated with adolescent psychopathology among youth with relatively “low” (β = -1.28, p<.001, CI [0.08, 0.20]) and “moderate” (β=-0.28, p<.001, CI [0.05, 0.15]), but not “high” (p>.05) set-shifting abilities. Findings were null by teacher and youth self-report (p’s>.05). Child ADHD diagnostic status, gender, and age were included as covariates in all models. Next steps will include employing multiple imputation to estimate values for the notable amount of missing data in the outcome variables of interest (CBCL, TRF, YSR) and analyses will subsequently be reconducted. Preliminary findings thus far may suggest that children with higher trait NE who also present with impaired set-shifting abilities may be more prone to experience psychological dysfunction during adolescence, based on parent-report. Given the high prevalence and negative consequences of psychopathology among ADHD youth, findings from this work have the potential to help elucidate subgroups of children who may benefit from specific treatment targets (e.g., neurocognitive interventions and EF training) contingent on their disposition and neurocognitive profiles to optimize treatment outcomes.

Authors

• Gabrielle MacNaughton, University of California - Los Angeles
  Presenting Author

• Steve Lee, University of California, Los Angeles