ABSTRACT

Objective

The purpose of the current study was to use network analysis techniques to parse relations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom domains, domains of executive function, and temperament traits.

Methods

Participants were 420 children aged 6–17 years (55% boys). The majority of the participants were Caucasian (72.86%) and 50% of the sample met diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Both parents and teachers provided ratings of participants’ ADHD symptom severity. Parents completed questionnaires pertaining to participants’ temperament traits, and participants completed well-validated laboratory measures of executive function.

Results

Results suggested effortful control as demonstrating the strongest relations with ADHD, particularly the parent-reported inattentive symptom domain. Additionally, negative effects appeared to demonstrate weaker but still notable relations primarily with the parent-reported hyperactive/impulsive symptom domain. Measures of executive function did not appear to demonstrate relations with any measures of ADHD symptoms or temperament traits. The results were generally replicated in a distinct sample (n = 732, 7–13 years, 63% boys, 81% White), although differences emerged pertaining to the role of surgency (i.e., related to the hyperactive/impulsive symptom domain in the replication but not the primary sample).

Conclusions

Overall, findings provided support for the primary role of effortful control, as well as secondary roles for negative affect and surgency, as key risk markers for the characterization of ADHD. Additional exploration of the overlap between temperament and executive function, as pertaining to ADHD, may help clarify heterogeneity in phenotypes and suggest priorities for targeted interventions outside of traditional symptoms.

中文翻译：

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儿童期和青春期注意力缺陷/多动症的病因网络

 抽象的

 客观的

当前研究的目的是使用网络分析技术来解析注意力缺陷/多动障碍（ADHD）症状域、执行功能域和气质特征之间的关系。

 方法

参与者为 420 名 6-17 岁儿童（55% 为男孩）。大多数参与者是白人 (72.86%)，50% 的样本符合 ADHD 的诊断标准。家长和老师都对参与者的多动症症状严重程度进行了评分。父母完成了有关参与者气质特征的调查问卷，参与者完成了经过充分验证的执行功能实验室测量。

 结果

结果表明，努力控制与多动症的关系最为密切，特别是父母报告的注意力不集中的症状领域。此外，负面影响似乎表现出较弱但仍然显着的关系，主要与父母报告的多动/冲动症状领域有关。执行功能的测量似乎没有表明与多动症症状或气质特征的任何测量有关系。结果通常在不同的样本中得到重复（ n = 732，7-13 岁，63% 男孩，81% 白人），尽管在手术的作用方面存在差异（即与手术中的多动/冲动症状领域相关）。复制但不是原始样本）。

 结论

总体而言，研究结果支持了努力控制的主要作用以及负面情绪和手术的次要作用，作为 ADHD 特征的关键风险标记。对与多动症有关的气质和执行功能之间的重叠进行额外探索可能有助于澄清表型的异质性，并建议在传统症状之外进行有针对性的干预措施的优先顺序。