Networks of Neurodevelopmental Traits, Socioenvironmental Factors, Emotional Dysregulation in Childhood, and Depressive Symptoms Across Development in Two U.K. Cohorts
Publication: American Journal of Psychiatry
Abstract
Objective:
Previous population-based studies have identified associations between childhood neurodevelopmental traits and depression in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. However, neurodevelopmental traits are highly correlated with each other, which could confound associations when traits are examined in isolation. The authors sought to identify unique associations between multiple neurodevelopmental traits in childhood and depressive symptoms across development, while taking into account co-occurring difficulties, in multivariate analyses.
Methods:
Data from two U.K. population-based cohorts, the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) (N=4,407 independent twins) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (N=10,351), were independently analyzed. Bayesian Gaussian graphical models were estimated to investigate pairwise conditional associations between neurodevelopmental traits (autism and ADHD symptoms and general cognitive, learning, and communication abilities), socioenvironmental stressors (academic performance and peer relations), and emotional dysregulation in childhood (ages 7–11) and depressive symptoms across development (ages 12, 16, and 21).
Results:
In both cohorts, bivariate correlations indicated several associations between neurodevelopmental traits and depressive symptoms across development. However, based on replicated findings across cohorts, these pairs of variables were mostly conditionally independent, and none were conditionally associated, after accounting for socioenvironmental stressors and emotional dysregulation. In turn, socioenvironmental stressors and emotional dysregulation were conditionally associated with both neurodevelopmental traits and depressive symptoms. Based on replicated findings across cohorts, neurodevelopmental traits in childhood could be associated only indirectly with depressive symptoms across development.
Conclusions:
This study indicates that associations between childhood neurodevelopmental traits and depressive symptoms across development could be explained by socioenvironmental stressors and emotional dysregulation. The present findings could inform future research aimed at the prevention of depression in youths with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Supplementary Material
File (appi.ajp.20220868.ds001.pdf)
- Download
- 2.78 MB
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Received: 17 October 2022
Revision received: 24 January 2023
Revision received: 21 March 2023
Revision received: 10 May 2023
Revision received: 26 May 2023
Accepted: 31 May 2023
Published online: 16 August 2023
Published in print: October 1, 2023
Keywords
Authors
Author Contributions
Drs. Farhat and Blakey contributed equally to this work.
Funding Information
Dr. Farhat was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation grant 2021/08540-0, which was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation grant 2016/22455-8 awarded to Prof. Polanczyk. Dr. Blakey was supported by Wellcome Trust grant 204895/Z/16/Z, which was awarded to Dr. Stergiakouli and Profs. Thapar and Davey Smith. Dr. Blakey, Dr. Stergiakouli, and Prof. Davey Smith work in a unit that receives funding from the University of Bristol and the U.K. Medical Research Council (grant MC_UU_00011/1). Dr. Shephard was supported by a Young Investigator award from the São Paulo Research Foundation (grant 2020/05964-1).Prof. Davey Smith is a scientific advisory board member for Insitro and Relation Therapeutics. Prof. Polanczyk has served as a consultant, an advisory board member, and/or a speaker for Abbott, Aché, Apsen, Medice, Novo Nordisk, and Takeda and has received royalties from Editora Manole. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Export Citations
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.
There are no citations for this item
View Options
Get Access
Login options
Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.
Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens loginNot a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).