Trajectories of adolescent conduct problems in relation to cortical thickness development: a longitudinal MRI study

Abstract

Multiple cross-sectional imaging studies have identified structural abnormalities in prefrontal, temporal and limbic regions related to conduct problems (CPs). However, the relationship between development of such neurobiological deficits and developmental pathways of CPs has remained unclear. The current study investigated distinct trajectories of CP and related trajectories of cortical thickness within a community-based sample of adolescents (n=239), age range 12–19, to address this gap. Three trajectory classes were revealed using latent class growth analyses (LCGAs), comprising a ‘desisting' CP group, an ‘intermediate' CP group and a ‘stable low' CP group. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were collected with a subgroup of 171 adolescents at three waves throughout adolescence (ages 12, 16 and 19). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis—comparing longitudinal changes in cortical thickness and subcortical volume between CP groups for several regions of interest (ROIs)—showed that these CP groups had differential trajectories of cortical thickness in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dl-PFC), and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and volume of the hippocampus. Adolescents in the desisting CP group showed an attenuation of the typical pattern of cortical thinning as present in the intermediate and stable low CP groups, in addition to an exaggeration of the typical pattern of hippocampal volume increase. These findings suggest that a deviant cortical thickness trajectory was related to a desisting CP pathway across adolescence. Such deviant neurodevelopmental growth trajectories may act as an underlying mechanism for developmental CP pathways, and possibly distinguish desisting antisocial adolescents.

Longitudinal structural brain development and externalizing behavior in adolescence

“…Oostermeijer et al. (2016) showed that adolescents who displayed a desisting pathway of conduct problems showed aberrant development of hippocampal volume. Yet, it remains elusive whether our observed coinciding developmental pattern is related to deviant behavior.…”

“…Findings from a three‐wave longitudinal study showed that groups of adolescents with distinct developmental patterns of externalizing behavior showed different developmental structural brain changes, such that a group with desisting conduct problems showed an attenuation of the typical pattern of cortical thinning in dlPFC and ACC compared to groups with stable low or intermediate levels of externalizing behavior (Oostermeijer et al., 2016). Furthermore, this ‘desisting’ group showed an exaggeration of growth in hippocampal volume (Oostermeijer et al., 2016). Yet, a recent large‐scale longitudinal study focusing on late childhood reported that higher levels of externalizing behavior was predictive of attenuated maturation of total subcortical volume (Muetzel et al., 2017).…”

“…We aimed to test the association between brain developmental patterns and externalizing behavior, with a threefold focus: (a) confirm the longitudinal relations between externalizing behavior and cortical brain structure, specifically in the dlPFC, OFC, and ACC (Oostermeijer et al., 2016), (b) test the longitudinal developmental relations between externalizing behavior and subcortical brain structures in more detail (Ameis et al., 2014; Muetzel et al., 2017; Oostermeijer et al., 2016), and (c) examine how maturational coupling between volume of these brain regions relate to externalizing behavior (Ameis et al., 2014). For this purpose, we tested participants from a community sample between ages 8 and 29 years, who were scanned at three occasions, each separated by a 2‐year‐interval.…”

“…Hence, we expected that higher levels of externalizing behavior would be associated with attenuated cortical thinning in dlPFC, OFC, and ACC (Ameis et al., 2014; Oostermeijer et al., 2016). Moreover, we expected a negative relation between externalizing behavior and subcortical development, specifically in striatum, hippocampus, and amygdala volume (Muetzel et al., 2017; Wallace et al., 2014).…”

“…In a study including children and adolescents (6-18 years), Ameis et al (2014) showed that externalizing behavior was negatively associated with cortical thickness in OFC and cingulate cortex, but they did not find a relation with hippocampus or amygdala volume. Findings from a three-wave longitudinal study showed that groups of adolescents with distinct developmental patterns of externalizing behavior showed different developmental structural brain changes, such that a group with desisting conduct problems showed an attenuation of the typical pattern of cortical thinning in dlPFC and ACC compared to groups with stable low or intermediate levels of externalizing behavior (Oostermeijer et al, 2016). Furthermore, this 'desisting' group showed an exaggeration of growth in hippocampal volume (Oostermeijer et al, 2016).…”