Bifactor latent structure of ADHD/ODD symptoms: predictions of dual‐pathway/trait‐impulsivity etiological models of ADHD

Abstract

Consistent with predictions derived from recently articulated dual-pathway and trait-impulsivity models of externalizing liability, and from behavioral genetics studies indicating near complete overlap in vulnerability to ADHD and ODD, ADHD and ODD symptoms arose from a single, general disruptive behavior factor, which accounted for all of the variance in HI subscale scores and over half of the variance IN and ODD subscales. Thus, IN, HI, and ODD subscale scores strongly reflect a general disruptive behavior factor – not the specific content of their respective constructs.

Impulsivity Symptoms as Core to the Developmental Externalizing Spectrum

“…These results are in line with Beauchaine's (2010) theory and consistent with prior work using a latent variable approach (Burns et al, 2014; Lee et al, 2015) suggesting that impulsivity is the core of the externalizing spectrum in childhood. In line with study hypotheses, behavioral impulsivity symptoms appeared to be core, or central, to the externalizing spectrum across developmental periods from preschool to adolescence.…”

“…Bottom-up facets of impulsivity may exhibit particularly salient linkages to hyperactivity-impulsivity, as well as oppositional-defiance and conduct problems, compared to inattention which may be more closely linked to executive dysfunction or effortful control (i.e., top-down control: Martel, Nigg & von Eye, 2009; Nigg & Casey, 2005). Recent empirical work using a latent variable approach is consistent with such theory, suggesting that a single general latent factor underlies ADHD and ODD, with such a factor accounting for all of the variance in hyperactivity-impulsivity scores, and over half of the variance in oppositional-defiance and inattention scores (Burns et al, 2014). Furthermore, the sluggish cognitive tempo factor, related to ADHD inattention, exhibited discriminant validity by loading onto its own factor and predicting academic impairment (Lee et al, 2015).…”

“…It is theorized that oppositional-defiance and hyperactivity-impulsivity may form such an externalizing spectrum during childhood (Burt, McGue, Krueger, & Iacono, 2005; Lahey et al, 2004). However, this theory has only been minimally tested at present, with two latent variable studies finding support for a bifactor structure of a general externalizing factor with co-existing specific factors of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; e.g., Burns, Moura, Beauchaine, & McBurnett, 2014; Lee, Burns, Beauchaine, & Becker, 2015). …”

“…Although some work has evaluated such ideas using a latent variable approach (Burns et al, 2014; Lee et al, 2015), no work to date has utilized a network analytic approach to determine core symptoms of the externalizing spectrum across childhood development. Yet, a network analysis approach can provide a critical test of whether behavioral impulsivity symptoms are in fact core, or central, to the network of externalizing symptoms across development periods.…”

Does Child Temperament Play a Role in the Association Between Parenting Practices and Child Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

“…This finding is in line with past work suggesting that negative affect and agreeableness help explain the overlap between ADHD and ODD (Martel and Nigg 2006; White 1999). Further, low levels of reactive control and agreeableness have been linked to increased hyperactivity-impulsivity specifically (Martel and Nigg 2006); hyperactivity-impulsivity in particular has been proposed to largely account for the overlap between ADHD and DBDs (Burns et al 2014). Importantly, these traits have been hypothesized to reflect disruptions of bottom-up incentive processes (e.g., delaying rewards; Nigg 2006a), and difficulties regulating emotion and self-control, as well as low levels of agreeableness and high levels of negative affect, have been implicated as robust predictors of child DBDs (Martel et al 2012).…”