Clinical outcomes of laboratory-observed preschool behavioral disinhibition at five-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Behavioral disinhibition refers to a temperamental tendency to exhibit boldness, approach, and spontaneity in unfamiliar situations. We previously found it to be associated with childhood disruptive behavior and mood disorders, as well as with parental bipolar disorder. In the present study, our objective was to examine the diagnostic outcome in middle childhood of behavioral disinhibition assessed at preschool age among offspring at risk for anxiety and mood disorders.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 284 children, including offspring of parents with panic disorder or major depression and comparison offspring of parents without these disorders, who had been assessed with laboratory observations of temperament at ages 21 months to 6 years. We reassessed 215 of the children (77%) at 5-year follow-up (mean age 9.6 years) with structured diagnostic interviews.


RESULTS
Compared with noninhibited, nondisinhibited control subjects, behaviorally disinhibited children had higher lifetime rates of comorbid mood plus disruptive behavior disorders and higher current rates of any disruptive behavior disorder and of oppositional defiant disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral disinhibition appears to be a temperamental antecedent of disruptive behavior disorders and their comorbidity with mood disorders in middle childhood, which may be targeted for preventive intervention.
Hirshfeld-Becker
Dina R
DR
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. dhirshfeld@partners.org
Biederman
Joseph
J
Henin
Aude
A
Faraone
Stephen V
SV
Micco
Jamie A
JA
van Grondelle
Anne
A
Henry
Brianne
B
Rosenbaum
Jerrold F
JF
D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D013694:Temperament