Joint developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing disorders between childhood and adolescence

Michel G Nivard, Gitta H Lubke, Conor V Dolan, David M Evans, Beate St Pourcain, Marcus R Munafò, Christel M Middeldorp

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This study sought to identify trajectories of DSM-IV based internalizing (INT) and externalizing (EXT) problem scores across childhood and adolescence and to provide insight into the comorbidity by modeling the co-occurrence of INT and EXT trajectories. INT and EXT were measured repeatedly between age 7 and age 15 years in over 7,000 children and analyzed using growth mixture models. Five trajectories were identified for both INT and EXT, including very low, low, decreasing, and increasing trajectories. In addition, an adolescent onset trajectory was identified for INT and a stable high trajectory was identified for EXT. Multinomial regression showed that similar EXT and INT trajectories were associated. However, the adolescent onset INT trajectory was independent of high EXT trajectories, and persisting EXT was mainly associated with decreasing INT. Sex and early life environmental risk factors predicted EXT and, to a lesser extent, INT trajectories. The association between trajectories indicates the need to consider comorbidity when a child presents with INT or EXT disorders, particularly when symptoms start early. This is less necessary when INT symptoms start at adolescence. Future studies should investigate the etiology of co-occurring INT and EXT and the specific treatment needs of these severely affected children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)919-928
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology
Volume29
Issue number3
Early online date18 Jul 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2017

Keywords

  • Journal Article

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Joint developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing disorders between childhood and adolescence'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this