Associations Between Chronic Irritability and Sensory Processing Difficulties in Children and Adolescents

Bibliographic Data

ID15525599
AuthorsYuji Harima (Tokyo Metropolitan University), Dai Miyawaki (0000-0001-7081-7508, Osaka Metropolitan University, corresponding author), Ayako Goto (Tokyo Metropolitan University), Kaoru Hirai (Tokyo Metropolitan University), Shoko Sakamoto (0000-0003-1422-8316, Osaka Metropolitan University), Hiroki Hama (Osaka Metropolitan University), Shin Kadono (Osaka Metropolitan University), Sayaka Nishiura (Osaka Metropolitan University), Koki Inoue (0000-0003-3044-3921, Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Year2022
Volume13
Pages860278-860278
Publication date2022-04-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2022.860278
PMID35573381
OpenAlexW4286835651
LanguageEN
References cited71

Irritability is one of the most common reasons for which children and adolescents are referred for psychiatric evaluation and care. However, clinical irritability is difficult to define; thus, its prevalence varies widely. Chronic irritability may be associated with sensory processing difficulties (SPD), but little is known about the relationship between these two factors in clinical populations. In this study, we examined the prevalence of chronic irritability and its association with SPD in 166 children aged 5-16 years who were referred to the psychiatric outpatient clinic of the Osaka City University Hospital. Chronic irritability and parent-reported scores for the Short Sensory Profile, Infant Behavior Checklist-Revised, Child Behavior Checklist, and Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (Present and Lifetime version) questionnaires were used for assessment. A total of 22 children (13.2%) presented with chronic irritability (i.e., the irritability group) and were more likely to have oppositional defiant disorder, externalizing problems, and attention issues than those without chronic irritability (i.e., the control group). SPD were reported in eight (36%) patients in the irritability group and in 21 (15%) in the control group ( p = 0.029). Moreover, compared to the control group, the irritability group showed a significant difference in almost all items of the Short Sensory Profile. Chronic irritability was associated with more severe overall SPD, even after adjusting for possible confounding factors (internalizing and externalizing problems, age, sex, and low income). We provide evidence to support our hypothesis that chronic irritability is associated with SPD in children and adolescents. Therefore, SPD should be assessed to provide appropriate interventions in children and adolescents with chronic irritability

Anxiety · Checklist · Irritability · Outpatient clinic · Psychiatry · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Stuttering Research and Treatment · Internal Medicine

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