Dataset Information

Heritable and Nonheritable Pathways to Early Callous-Unemotional Behaviors.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Callous-unemotional behaviors in early childhood signal higher risk for trajectories of antisocial behavior and callous-unemotional traits that culminate in later diagnoses of conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and psychopathy. Studies demonstrate high heritability of callous-unemotional traits, but little research has examined specific heritable pathways to early callous-unemotional behaviors. Studies also indicate that positive parenting protects against the development of callous-unemotional traits, but genetically informed designs have not been used to confirm that these relationships are not the product of gene-environment correlations. In a sample of adopted children and their biological and adoptive mothers, the authors tested novel heritable and nonheritable pathways to preschool callous-unemotional behaviors.

Method

In an adoption cohort of 561 families, history of severe antisocial behavior assessed in biological mothers and observations of adoptive mother positive reinforcement at 18 months were examined as predictors of callous-unemotional behaviors at 27 months.

Results

Despite limited or no contact with offspring, biological mother antisocial behavior predicted early callous-unemotional behaviors. Adoptive mother positive reinforcement protected against early callous-unemotional behaviors. High levels of adoptive mother positive reinforcement buffered the effects of heritable risk for callous-unemotional behaviors posed by biological mother antisocial behavior.

Conclusions

The findings elucidate heritable and nonheritable pathways to early callous-unemotional behaviors. The results provide a specific heritable pathway to callous-unemotional behaviors and compelling evidence that parenting is an important nonheritable factor in the development of callous-unemotional behaviors. The finding that positive reinforcement buffered heritable risk for callous-unemotional behaviors has important translational implications for the prevention of trajectories to serious antisocial behavior.

SUBMITTER: Hyde LW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5008992 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Heritable and Nonheritable Pathways to Early Callous-Unemotional Behaviors.

Hyde Luke W LW Waller Rebecca R Trentacosta Christopher J CJ Shaw Daniel S DS Neiderhiser Jenae M JM Ganiban Jody M JM Reiss David D Leve Leslie D LD

The American journal of psychiatry 20160408 9

<h4>Objective</h4>Callous-unemotional behaviors in early childhood signal higher risk for trajectories of antisocial behavior and callous-unemotional traits that culminate in later diagnoses of conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and psychopathy. Studies demonstrate high heritability of callous-unemotional traits, but little research has examined specific heritable pathways to early callous-unemotional behaviors. Studies also indicate that positive parenting protects against the d ...[more]

PMID: 27056607

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveCallous-unemotional (CU) behaviors and quantitative autistic traits (QATs), heritable domains implicated in social development, are both associated with reduced prosocial behavior and increased aggression at their clinical extremes. However, they are hypothesized to contribute to aggression through separate mechanisms. This study tested whether CU behaviors and QATs exhibited distinct profiles of heritable influences as well as independent contributions to early childhood aggression in a general population sample with enhanced sensitivity to clarify these relationships.MethodParents of 3- to 4-year-old epidemiologically representative twins ascertained from birth records (N = 113 pairs) completed questionnaires measuring CU behaviors, QATs, and aggression. Correlation coefficients indexed overlap across behaviors. Intraclass correlations were compared between monozygotic and dizygotic twins to characterize relative genetic and environmental influences. Generalized estimating equations tested contributions of CU subdomains, verified via factor analysis, and QATs to aggression.ResultsTotal CU scores strongly correlated with QATs (r = 0.54) and aggression (r = 0.55), while QATs correlated moderately with aggression (r = 0.38). Among 3 identified CU factors, the uncaring factor strongly correlated with QATs (r = 0.52), while unemotional and callous factors showed small correlations (r = 0.25 and r = 0.16, respectively). QATs, aggression, and all CU factors except the callous factor showed heritable influences. Uncaring and callous factors as well as QATs demonstrated unique and shared contributions to aggression, with the callous factor being moderated by sex.ConclusionPartially overlapping relations support distinct mechanisms whereby CU behaviors, in particular the callous factor, and QATs contribute to early aggression. In-depth social developmental assessment may enhance personalized intervention for aggression in early childhood.Diversity & inclusion statementWe worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure sex balance in the selection of non-human subjects. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science.

Project description:ImportanceChildren with high callous-unemotional traits are more likely to develop severe and persistent conduct problems; however, the newborn neurobiology underlying early callous-unemotional traits remains unknown. Understanding the neural mechanisms that precede the development of callous-unemotional traits could help identify at-risk children and encourage development of novel treatments.ObjectiveTo determine whether newborn brain function is associated with early-emerging empathy, prosociality, and callous-unemotional traits.Design, setting, and participantsIn this prospective, longitudinal cohort study, pregnant women were recruited from obstetric clinics in St Louis, Missouri, from September 1, 2017, to February 28, 2020, with longitudinal data collected until March 20, 2023. Mothers were recruited during pregnancy. Newborns underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging shortly after birth. Mothers completed longitudinal follow-up when the children were aged 1, 2, and 3 years.ExposuresThe sample was enriched for exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage.Main outcome and measureFunctional connectivity between hypothesized brain regions was assessed using newborn-specific networks and voxel-based connectivity analyses. Children's callous-unemotional traits were measured using the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits. Empathy and prosociality were assessed using the Infant and Toddler Socio-Emotional Assessment.ResultsA total of 283 children (mean [SD] gestational age, 38 [2] weeks; 159 male [56.2%]; 2 Asian [0.7%], 171 Black [60%], 7 Hispanic or Latino [2.5%], 106 White [38%], 4 other racial or ethnic group [1.4%]) were included in the analysis. Stronger newborn functional connectivity between the cingulo-opercular network (CO) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was associated with higher callous-unemotional traits at age 3 years (β = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.17-0.41; P < .001). Results persisted when accounting for parental callous-unemotional traits and child externalizing symptoms. Stronger newborn CO-mPFC connectivity was also associated with lower empathy and lower prosociality at ages 1, 2, and 3 years using multilevel models (β = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.21 to -0.04; P = .004 and β = -0.20; 95% CI, -0.30 to -0.10; P < .001, respectively).Conclusions and relevanceNewborn functional connectivity was associated with early-emerging empathy, prosociality, and callous-unemotional traits, even when accounting for parental callous-unemotional traits and child externalizing symptoms. Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of empathy, prosociality, and callous-unemotional traits at the earliest developmental point may help early risk stratification and novel intervention development.

Dataset Information

Heritable and Nonheritable Pathways to Early Callous-Unemotional Behaviors.

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Heritable and Nonheritable Pathways to Early Callous-Unemotional Behaviors.

Similar Datasets

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