The association between executive functioning and psychopathology: general or specific?

Bloemen, A. J. P.; Oldehinkel, Albertine J.; Laceulle, Odilia M.; Ormel, Johan; Rommelse, Nanda; Hartman, Catharina A.

doi:10.1017/s0033291717003269

Cited by 108 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…This dimension has previously been proposed as a neurodevelopmental spectrum 26 and is consistent with initial factor analytic evidence in children. 27, 28, 35 The emergence of this factor in adults is novel, as previous structural studies of adults have not considered enough neurodevelopmental problems to allow delineation of this dimension. This finding provides the strongest evidence to date for the inclusion of the neurodevelopmental spectrum in dimensional models of psychopathology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, a neurodevelopmental spectrum (e.g., speech problems, motor problems, autism) has been proposed, 26 but is still undergoing factor analytic examination on its placement among other forms of psychopathology. 27, 28…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Available studies show that broader spectra are associated with familiality for psychiatric disorders, childhood adversities, brain and functional impairment 11, 13, 35 while more specific dimensions are required to adequately account for outcomes such as educational achievement and executive functioning. 14, 19, 27 However, a systematic evaluation of validity of dimensions across hierarchical levels is lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Delineating and validating higher-order dimensions of psychopathology in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study

Michelini

Deanna²,

Tian

et al. 2019

Preprint

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2 6 2 7Hierarchical dimensional systems of psychopathology promise more informative descriptions for 2 8 understanding risk and predicting outcome than traditional diagnostic systems, but it is unclear how many 2 9 major dimensions they should include. We delineated the hierarchy of childhood and adult 3 0 psychopathology and validated it against clinically-relevant measures. Participants were 4,524 9-and 10-3 1year-old children and their parents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. 2Factor analyses on items from the Child Behavior Checklist and Adult Self-Report characterized a 3 3 dimensional hierarchy. We examined the familial aggregation of the psychopathology dimensions, and 3 4 the ability of different factor solutions to account for risks factors, social, educational and cognitive 3 5 functioning, and physical and mental health service utilization. A hierarchical structure with a general 3 6 psychopathology ('p') factor at the apex and five specific factors (internalizing, somatoform, detachment, 3 7 neurodevelopmental, and externalizing) emerged in children. Adult factors were similar, but externalizing 3 8 behaviors separated into disinhibited and antagonistic factors. Child and parent p-factors correlated highly 3 9 (r=.61, P<.001), and smaller but significant correlations emerged for convergent dimensions between 4 0 parents and children after controlling for p-factors (r=.10-20, P<.001). A model with childhood p-factor 4 1 alone explained mental health service utilization (R 2 =.13, P<.001), but up to five dimensions provided 4 2 incremental validity to account for developmental risk and current functioning (R 2 =.03-.20, P<.001). In 4 3 this first investigation comprehensively mapping the psychopathology hierarchy in children and adults, 4 4we delineated a hierarchy of higher-order dimensions associated with a range of clinically-relevant 4 5 validators. These findings hold important implications for psychiatric nosology and future research in this 4 6 sample. 4 7 4 8 3

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Delineating and validating higher-order dimensions of psychopathology in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study

Michelini

Deanna²,

Tian

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…As a result, the general and lower-order factors in second-order models are not independent, but share variance. Other studies use bifactor models (Holzinger & Swineford, 1937;Mansolf & Reise, 2017;Reise, 2012) to define the hierarchy of psychopathology dimensions (Bloemen et al, 2018;Carragher et al, 2016;Caspi et al, 2014;Lahey et al, 2012;Lahey et al, 2015;Lahey et al, 2018;Sunderland et al, 2019). In bifactor models (Figure 1), each symptom (or dimension of symptoms) loads both on the general factor and on one of two or more orthogonal specific factors.…”

Section: General Scientific Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each factor must be valid at least in the sense of criterion validity. Notably, the general factor and specific factors of psychopathology defined in bifactor models have each already been found account for unique variance in adverse functional outcomes, including psychoactive drug prescriptions, incarceration, poor academic progress, suicidal behavior, and self-harm (Haltigan et al, 2018;Lahey et al, 2015;Pettersson, Lahey, Lundström, Larsson, & Lichtenstein, 2018;Sallis et al, 2019), and in theoretically related constructs, including trait negative emotionality (Caspi et al, 2014;Class et al, 2019) and executive functions (Bloemen et al, 2018;Martel et al, 2017;Shields, Reardon, Brandes, & Tackett, 2019). In the present analyses, we assess the criterion validity of each factor defined in bifactor and second-order models using a diverse set of theoretically and practically relevant external variables that are measured independently (i.e., without shared method variance with psychopathology).…”

Section: General Scientific Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Criterion Validity and Relationships between Alternative Hierarchical Dimensional Models of General and Specific Psychopathology

Moore

Kaczkurkin

Durham

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Psychopathology can be viewed as a hierarchy of correlated dimensions. Many studies have supported this conceptualization, but they have used alternative statistical models with differing interpretations. In bifactor models, every symptom loads on both the general factor and one specific factor (e.g., internalizing), which partitions the total explained variance in each symptom between these orthogonal factors. In second-order models, symptoms load on one of several correlated lower-order factors. These lower-order factors load on a second-order general factor, which is defined by the variance shared by the lower-order factors. Thus, the factors in secondorder models are not orthogonal. Choosing between these valid statistical models depends on the hypothesis being tested. Because bifactor models define orthogonal phenotypes with distinct sources of variance, they are optimal for studies of shared and unique associations of the dimensions of psychopathology with external variables putatively relevant to etiology and mechanisms. Concerns have been raised, however, about the reliability of the orthogonal specific factors in bifactor models. We evaluated this concern using parent symptom ratings of 9-10 year olds in the ABCD Study. Psychometric indices indicated that all factors in both bifactor and second-order models exhibited at least adequate construct reliability and estimated replicability.The factors defined in bifactor and second-order models were highly to moderately correlated across models, but have different interpretations. All factors in both models demonstrated significant associations with external criterion variables of theoretical and clinical importance, but the interpretation of such associations in second-order models was ambiguous due to shared variance among factors.

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The importance of improving cognitive flexibility in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: The case for cognitive remediation therapy

Timko,

Schnabel,

Orloff

2024

Intl J Eating Disorders

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ObjectiveInefficiencies in executive functioning (EF), more specifically cognitive flexibility and an overly detailed processing style, are frequently observed in individuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and have been identified as potential targets in treatment. Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) is an adjunctive treatment approach specifically designed to have a positive impact on EF. Mainly evaluated in adults, CRT has been criticized for its perceived ineffectiveness in promoting weight restoration or directly reducing eating disorder symptoms.MethodWe argue that we need to refocus our conceptual framework for using CRT as an adjunctive treatment and specifically explore its potential benefit in adolescents.ResultsAdolescence is a critical window for EF development during which CRT has the potential to have the most impact. While it may not specifically ameliorate eating disorder symptoms and directly improve weight gain, CRT may mitigate the impact of malnutrition on adolescent brain development, reduce attrition rates in treatment, and improve cognitive flexibility and (indirectly) other maintaining factors, thereby improving global functioning.DiscussionMore research needs to be done to understand the development of EF in adolescents with AN and how best to employ CRT as an adjunctive treatment to support development and target maintaining factors. The current article broadly reviews findings on executive functioning inefficiencies in adolescents with AN and discusses the purpose and role of CRT in treating AN. Finally, we highlight key critiques of using CRT and pose questions for future research.Public SignificanceTreatments targeting executive functioning in adolescents with AN are limited. We need to better understand how CRT can benefit adolescents in treatment. Increasing treatment options, including adjunctive treatments, is necessary to reduce the long‐term impact of AN.

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The association between executive functioning and psychopathology: general or specific?

Cited by 108 publications

References 43 publications

Delineating and validating higher-order dimensions of psychopathology in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study

Delineating and validating higher-order dimensions of psychopathology in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study

Criterion Validity and Relationships between Alternative Hierarchical Dimensional Models of General and Specific Psychopathology

The importance of improving cognitive flexibility in adolescents with anorexia nervosa: The case for cognitive remediation therapy

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