Psychopathological and Neuropsychological Endophenotypes of Children with Disruptive Behaviour

Childhood Disruptive Behaviour Disorders (DBD) are a robust predictor of delinquency, academic failure, social difficulties, and persistent mental health disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Children with DBDs represent a highly heterogeneous group and the present study aimed to distill heterogeneity by identifying data-driven subgroups based on key dimensions of psychopathology and neuropsychological abilities. Data from children 6 – 12 years (n = 143), referred to a clinic for children with DBDs, were analyzed using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to determine classes (i.e., subgroups) based on measures of children’s callous-unemotional (CU) traits, emotion regulation, and objective Executive Function (EF) task performance. Classes were compared on parent- and teacher-rated level of functional impairment, social functioning, and conduct problems. Classes with elevated levels of CU traits and poor selective attention had the highest conduct problems and impairment. This research may inform more refined assessment processes and future treatment innovation for children with DBDs.M.A