Irritability and Limited Prosocial Emotions/Callous-Unemotional Traits in Elementary-School-Age Children

Behav Ther. 2020 Mar;51(2):223-237. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2019.06.007. Epub 2019 Jun 24.

Abstract

Affective traits, including irritability and limited prosocial emotions/callous-unemotional traits (LPE/CU), each explain significant variance in youth conduct problems but few studies have examined these constructs simultaneously. This study examined whether irritability, LPE/CU, or their combination explained significant variance in measures of internalizing or externalizing psychopathology, aggression, peer problems, impairment, or parenting. Participants were 219 elementary-school-age children, including 178 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and/or conduct disorder and 41 typically developing children. Results of analyses showed that irritability and LPE/CU had significant and sometimes unique associations with measures of child behavior, impairment, and parenting. There was also evidence that the interaction between irritability and LPE/CU was significantly associated with aggression and impairment. These findings suggest that irritability and LPE/CU should be examined together when assessing and treating conduct problems in youth.

Keywords: callous-unemotional traits; conduct problems; irritability; limited prosocial emotions.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Child
  • Conduct Disorder / psychology*
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Irritable Mood*
  • Male
  • Problem Behavior