Neuropsychological Predictors of ODD Symptom Dimensions in Young Children

Abstract

Objective: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a commonly diagnosed childhood behavior disorder, yet knowledge of relations between ODD and early neuropsychological functions, particularly independent of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is still limited. Additionally, studies have not examined neuropsychological functioning as it relates to the different ODD symptom dimensions. Method: Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate how preschool neuropsychological functioning predicted negative affect, oppositional behavior, and antagonistic behavior symptom dimensions of ODD in 224 6-year-old children, oversampled for early behavior problems. Results: Working memory, inhibition, and sustained attention predicted negative affect symptoms of ODD, controlling for ADHD, whereas delay aversion uniquely predicted oppositional behavior, controlling for ADHD. Delay aversion also marginally predicted antagonistic behavior, controlling for ADHD. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that different ODD symptom dimensions may be differentially predicted by different neuropsychological functions. The findings further underscore the importance of future research on ODD to take into account the possible heterogeneity of both symptoms and underlying neuropsychological functioning.

Childhood Antisocial Behavior: A Neurodevelopmental Problem

“…Indeed, studies of hot EF have consistently found impairments in ODD/CD samples (e.g., Dolan & Lennox, 2013;Hobson et al, 2011;Syngelaki et al, 2009;Van Goozen et al, 2004;Woltering et al, 2016), and there is emerging evidence that hot EF problems are more characteristic of ODD/CD than they are of ADHD. Although it is well-established that ADHD children tend to prefer immediate rewards to delayed rewards in delay of gratification tasks, the majority of these studies have not accounted for the possible impact of ODD/CD (Luman, Tripp & Scheres, 2010), and in the studies that have done so (e.g., Griffith et al, 2019), ODD/CD was found to be a stronger predictor. Evidence has also been found in studies using card-playing paradigms that measure problems in motivational inhibition (continuing to respond for a reward despite receiving increasing punishment) that reveals deficits in pure ODD/CD groups but not in pure ADHD groups (van Goozen et al, 2004).…”

Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight

“…One reason for that may have been inclusion of ADHD comorbidity and CD children, and another reason may be taking ODD as a unitary concept and not being sensitive enough to the possibility of differences in neuropsychological problems across dimensions. 89 Recently, the DSM-5 proposed three dimensions or clusters of symptoms in ODD syndrome: angry/irritable mood, headstrong, and hurtful/vindictiveness. Recent studies have also focused on identifying underlying factor structures in ODD and obtained two- or three-factor solutions.…”

“…Sustained attention also predicted oppositional and antagonistic symptoms, but this was due solely to an ADHD component. 89 Emotion regulation is also considered a key cognitive component. Both proactive and reactive aggression in children is associated with emotion regulation difficulty.…”

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of Oppositional Defiant Behavior Inventory

“…Approximately one in 10 people will display oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) criteria throughout life (2). The disorder is characterized by a pattern of persistent anger, irritability, and stubborn and resentful behavior (3). One to 6% of children and adolescents have oppositional defiant disorder, which indicates that this disorder is most common in this period.…”