Irritability at Age 3 May Predict Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescence

Irritability in preschool-aged children may point to youth at risk of developing psychiatric disorders in adolescence, according to astudy in theJournal of the American Academy of Child& Adolescent Psychiatry.“[O]ur findings underscore the clinical significance and predictive validity of early childhood irritability,” wrote Leah K. Sorcher and Lea Dougherty, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland and colleagues. “Preschool irritability predicted internalizing and externalizing disorders in adolescenc e, parent-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms [in the youth], and greater functional impairment, even after controlling for baseline psychiatric disorders.”The findings were based on information collected as part of the Stony Brook Temperament Study —a longitudinal study investigating the role of early child temperament on the development of internalizing disorders. At the start of the study, parents were asked questions about their 3-year-olds’ irritability, other psychiatric symptoms, and functional impairment. When these children reached age 12 and/or 15, both parents and youth were asked questions about any psychiatric symptoms the youth were experiencing, including symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as suicidal thoughts. Additionally, they answered questions about the youth’s physical health and overall functioning.“[I]rritability at age 3 predicted adolescent anxiety disorders, including specific phobia, social phobia, and [generalized anxiety...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD adolescents anxiety depression functional impairment irritability preschool-aged children psychiatric disorders suicide youth Source Type: research