PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY & STRUCTURAL BRAIN FEATURES IN THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT STUDY COHORT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL US POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Abstract

Background: Children who develop a psychiatric disorder often also develop additional comorbid psychiatric conditions, ultimately impacting prognosis, outcomes, and treatment planning. In this cross-sectional study using the ABCD dataset, the authors set out to identify distinct comorbidity profiles using comorbidity network analysis and any associated clinical correlates of behavior and structural neuroimaging markers. Methods: Structural magnetic resonance imaging and psychometric testing were obtained from 7077 eligible children between the ages of 9-10 in the ABCD dataset. Children were separated into the typically developing group and the psychiatric group based on the presence of a DSM-V diagnosis. Results: Three comorbidity profiles across gender emerged using comorbidity network analysis. Girls with the ADHD - ODD (AO) comorbidity profile and sparse comorbidity profile had thicker left superior frontal gyri compared to typically developing children. Boys and girls with the ADHD - ODD comorbidity profile had significantly higher externalizing scores compared to typically developing children. The ADHD-OCD-Specific Phobia (AOS) profile among boys had significantly higher internalizing scores, while the AO profile had significantly higher internalizing scores for girls. The AOS profile for boys and the AO profile for girls had significantly higher total problem scores compared to typically developing children. Conclusion: Comorbidity network analysis successfully identified comorbidity profiles associated with unique neurobiological markers and behavioral correlates and is a feasible technique for the investigation of comorbid psychiatric conditions.