Categorical and dimensional approaches to the developmental relationship between ADHD and irritability

Bibliographic Data

ID21344591
AuthorsRania Johns‐Mead (0009-0007-2061-982X, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia), Nandita Vijayakumar (0000-0002-5622-9547, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia), Melissa Mulraney (0000-0003-1953-6481, Institute for Social Neuroscience ISN Psychology Ivanhoe Vic. Australia), Glenn Melvin (0000-0002-6958-3908, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia), George J Youssef (0000-0002-6178-4895, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia), Emma Sciberras (0000-0003-2812-303X, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia), Vicki Anderson (0000-0001-5233-3147, Royal Children's Hospital), Vicki A Anderson (Murdoch Children's Research Institute Melbourne Vic. Australia), Jan M Nicholson (0000-0002-0305-0017, Judith Lumley Centre La Trobe University Melbourne Vic. Australia), Daryl Efron (0000-0003-2810-4496, Murdoch Children's Research Institute Melbourne Vic. Australia), Philip Hazel (Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health The University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia), Timothy J Silk (0000-0002-7290-512X, Deakin University, corresponding author), Tim J Silk (Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED) and School of Psychology Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia)
Year2023
Volume64
Issue10
Pages1422-1431
Publication date2023-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9630 • E-ISSN: 1469-7610
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jcpp.13818
PMID37170636
OpenAlexW4376226286
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited38

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

Anxiety · Cohort · Developmental psychology · Impulsivity · Irritability · Longitudinal study · Psychiatry · Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research · Bipolar Disorder and Treatment · Clinical Psychology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Psychology