Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022 Sep;63(9):1017-1026. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13556. Epub 2021 Dec 6.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders, affecting around 3.4% of children worldwide. A common and impairing correlate of ADHD is aggressive behaviour. ADHD symptoms and aggression are both heterogeneous and it has been speculated that certain symptoms of ADHD might be more important in aggressive behaviours of different types than others. This study uses a symptom-level analysis to investigate the concurrent and temporal links between ADHD symptoms and aggressive behaviours.
Using Gaussian Graphical Models and Graphical Vector Autoregression Models, longitudinal and cross-sectional networks of ADHD symptoms and aggressive behaviours, measured using parent-reported Social Behaviour Questionnaires, were estimated. Participants included 1,246 children taking part in the longitudinal Swiss z-proso cohort study at ages 7, 9 and 11.
The longitudinal network highlighted that ADHD symptoms and aggressive behaviours share a multitude of reciprocal temporal relations, with inattentive ADHD symptoms preceding both reactive and proactive aggression. Cross-sectional networks suggested that hyperactive/impulsive symptoms were predominantly connected to reactive aggressive behaviours but also to a form of proactive aggression, namely dominating other children.
Findings provide preliminary evidence which specific symptoms are the most promising targets for reducing aggressive behaviours in children with ADHD. They also highlight the potential importance of targeting feedback loops resulting from aggressive behaviours. Future research is needed to better understand the mechanisms through which ADHD and aggressive behaviours become linked.
注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）是最常见的儿童疾病之一，影响全球约 3.4%的儿童。ADHD 的一个常见且有害的相关症状是攻击行为。ADHD 症状和攻击行为都是异质的，有人推测，ADHD 的某些症状在不同类型的攻击行为中比其他症状更为重要。本研究使用症状层面的分析来调查 ADHD 症状和攻击行为之间的并发和时间联系。
使用高斯图形模型和图形向量自回归模型，对使用家长报告的社会行为问卷测量的 ADHD 症状和攻击行为的纵向和横向网络进行了估计。参与者包括 1246 名参加纵向瑞士 z-proso 队列研究的儿童，他们在 7、9 和 11 岁时接受了评估。
纵向网络强调 ADHD 症状和攻击行为具有多种相互的时间关系，注意力不集中的 ADHD 症状先于反应性和主动性攻击。横断面网络表明，多动/冲动症状主要与反应性攻击行为有关，但也与一种主动性攻击行为有关，即支配其他儿童。
研究结果初步提供了证据，表明哪些特定症状是减少 ADHD 儿童攻击行为最有希望的目标。它们还强调了针对攻击行为产生的反馈循环的潜在重要性。未来的研究需要更好地理解 ADHD 和攻击行为相互关联的机制。
