Transdiagnostic profiles of behaviour and communication relate to academic and socioemotional functioning and neural white matter organisation. (20th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mareva, Silvana; Akarca, Danyal; Holmes, Joni
• Other Names: Astle Duncan investigator.; Baker Kate investigator.; Gathercole Susan investigator.; Holmes Joni investigator.; Kievit Rogier investigator.; Manly Tom investigator.; Akarca Danyal investigator.; Bathelt Joe investigator.; Bennett Marc investigator.; Bignardi Giacomo investigator.; Bishop Sarah investigator.; Bottacin Erica investigator.; Bridge Lara investigator.; Brkic Diandra investigator.; Bryant Annie investigator.; Butterfield Sally investigator.; Byrne Elizabeth investigator.; Crickmore Gemma investigator.; Dalmaijer Edwin investigator.; Daly Fánchea investigator.; Emery Tina investigator.; Forde Laura investigator.; Franckel Grace investigator.; Furhmann Delia investigator.; Gadie Andrew investigator.; Gharooni Sara investigator.; Guy Jacalyn investigator.; Hawkins Erin investigator.; Jaroslawska Agnieszka investigator.; Joeghan Sara investigator.; Johnson Amy investigator.; Jones Jonathan investigator.; Mareva Silvana investigator.; Ng‐Cordell Elise investigator.; O'Brien Sinead investigator.; O'Leary Cliodhna investigator.; Rennie Joseph investigator.; Simpson‐Kent Ivan investigator.; Siugzdaite Roma investigator.; Smith Tess investigator.; Uh Stephani investigator.; Vedechkina Maria investigator.; Woolgar Francesca investigator.; Zdorovtsova Natalia investigator.; Zhang Mengya investigator.;
• Is Part Of: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry and allied disciplines. Volume 64:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2022-09-20
• Subjects: Neurodevelopmental disorders -- communication -- neural development -- language -- behaviour problems; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child psychiatry -- Periodicals; 155.4
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9630

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Behavioural and language difficulties co‐occur in multiple neurodevelopmental conditions. Our understanding of these problems has arguably been slowed by an overreliance on study designs that compare diagnostic groups and fail to capture the overlap across different neurodevelopmental disorders and the heterogeneity within them. Methods: We recruited a large transdiagnostic cohort of children with complex needs ( N = 805) to identify distinct subgroups of children with common profiles of behavioural and language strengths and difficulties. We then investigated whether and how these data‐driven groupings could be distinguished from a comparison sample ( N = 158) on measures of academic and socioemotional functioning and patterns of global and local white matter connectome organisation. Academic skills were assessed via standardised measures of reading and maths. Socioemotional functioning was captured by the parent‐rated version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: We identified three distinct subgroups of children, each with different levels of difficulties in structural language, pragmatic communication, and hot and cool executive functions. All three subgroups struggled with academic and socioemotional skills relative to the comparison sample, potentially representing three alternative but related developmental pathways to difficulties in these areas. The children with the weakest language skills had the most widespread difficulties with learning, whereas those with more pronounced difficulties with hot executive skills experienced the most severe difficulties in the socioemotional domain. Each data‐driven subgroup could be distinguished from the comparison sample based on both shared and subgroup‐unique patterns of neural white matter organisation. Children with the most pronounced deficits in language, cool executive, or hot executive function were differentiated from the comparison sample by altered connectivity in predominantly thalamocortical, temporal–parietal‐occipital, and frontostriatal circuits, respectively. Conclusions: These findings advance our understanding of commonly co‐morbid behavioural and language problems and their relationship to behavioural outcomes and neurobiological substrates.