Exploring Longitudinal Mechanisms of Irritability in Children: Implications for Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention.

Exploring Longitudinal Mechanisms of Irritability in Children: Implications for Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention. Behav Ther. 2020 Mar;51(2):238-252 Authors: Evans SC, Blossom JB, Fite PJ Abstract Severe irritability is a common and clinically important problem longitudinally associated with internalizing and externalizing problems in children. To better understand these mechanisms and to inform treatment research, we tested cognitive-behavioral processes as candidate mediators in the paths from irritability to later problems. Methods: A school sample (N = 238, 48% female, ages 8-10) was assessed at ~6-month intervals in fall (T1) and spring (T2) of third to fourth grade, and again the following fall (T3). Measures assessed irritability (T1/predictor); anger and sadness coping, intolerance of uncertainty, and rumination; (T1-T2/mediators); and anxiety, depressive symptoms, reactive aggression, and oppositionality (T1-T3/outcomes). Focused cross-lagged panel models, controlling for gender and grade, were specified to examine full (XT1 ➔ MT2 ➔ YT3) and half (XT1 ➔ MT2; MT1 ➔ YT2) longitudinal mediation. Across one or more intervals, irritability predicted higher depressive symptoms, anxiety, reactive aggression, oppositionality, intolerance of uncertainty, and poor emotion coping. From T1 irritability to T2/T3 outcomes, mediation was found for poor sadness coping leading to reactive aggression and oppositionality; poor anger c...
Source: Behavior Therapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Behav Ther Source Type: research