TY - JOUR
T1 - Underlying Psychophysiology of Dysregulation
T2 - Resting Heart Rate and Heart Rate Reactivity in Relation to Childhood Dysregulation
AU - Deutz, Marike H F
AU - Woltering, Steven
AU - Vossen, Helen G M
AU - Deković, Maja
AU - van Baar, Anneloes L
AU - Prinzie, Peter
N1 - Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - OBJECTIVE: High co-occurrence of externalizing and internalizing problems could underlie inconsistent findings regarding the relation between heart rate (HR) and psychopathology. In this study, HR measures were examined in relation to a general dysregulation profile studied from variable- and person-centered approaches.METHOD: The sample (N = 182) consisted of 8- to 12-year-old children referred for externalizing behaviors and typically developing children (mean age 9.70, SD 1.26; 75.8% boys). Resting HR (HRrest) was assessed during a 3-minute resting period. HR reactivity (HRreactivity) was assessed during an emotionally evoking go/no-go task.RESULTS: From a variable-centered approach, a bifactor model was fitted with a general factor of dysregulation underlying symptoms of anxiety/depression, aggression, and attention problems. HRrest was positively associated with dysregulation and specific aggression. From a person-centered approach, a latent profile analysis was used to identify different psychopathology classes: normative (n = 92), predominantly aggressive (n = 69), and dysregulated (n = 14). The latter was characterized by co-occurring increased levels of anxiety/depression, aggression, and attention problems. HRrest was increased in the predominantly aggressive class and HRreactivity was increased in the dysregulated class.CONCLUSION: High HRrest, or (trait-like) over-arousal, seems to be associated with dysregulation rather than uniquely associated with low externalizing or high internalizing symptomatology. In addition, HRrest predicted greater aggression and HRrest was increased in the predominantly aggressive class. High HRreactivity, or enhanced emotional reactivity, might be characteristic for a clinically relevant dysregulated subgroup. Assessment of HR could provide additional knowledge on individual differences that can help refine diagnostics and intervention efforts.
AB - OBJECTIVE: High co-occurrence of externalizing and internalizing problems could underlie inconsistent findings regarding the relation between heart rate (HR) and psychopathology. In this study, HR measures were examined in relation to a general dysregulation profile studied from variable- and person-centered approaches.METHOD: The sample (N = 182) consisted of 8- to 12-year-old children referred for externalizing behaviors and typically developing children (mean age 9.70, SD 1.26; 75.8% boys). Resting HR (HRrest) was assessed during a 3-minute resting period. HR reactivity (HRreactivity) was assessed during an emotionally evoking go/no-go task.RESULTS: From a variable-centered approach, a bifactor model was fitted with a general factor of dysregulation underlying symptoms of anxiety/depression, aggression, and attention problems. HRrest was positively associated with dysregulation and specific aggression. From a person-centered approach, a latent profile analysis was used to identify different psychopathology classes: normative (n = 92), predominantly aggressive (n = 69), and dysregulated (n = 14). The latter was characterized by co-occurring increased levels of anxiety/depression, aggression, and attention problems. HRrest was increased in the predominantly aggressive class and HRreactivity was increased in the dysregulated class.CONCLUSION: High HRrest, or (trait-like) over-arousal, seems to be associated with dysregulation rather than uniquely associated with low externalizing or high internalizing symptomatology. In addition, HRrest predicted greater aggression and HRrest was increased in the predominantly aggressive class. High HRreactivity, or enhanced emotional reactivity, might be characteristic for a clinically relevant dysregulated subgroup. Assessment of HR could provide additional knowledge on individual differences that can help refine diagnostics and intervention efforts.
KW - autonomic nervous system
KW - comorbidity
KW - stress reactivity
KW - arousal
KW - psychopathology
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.09.434
DO - 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.09.434
M3 - Article
C2 - 30768409
SN - 0890-8567
VL - 58
SP - 589
EP - 599
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
IS - 6
ER -