Differentiating co-occurring behavior problems in children with ADHD: patterns of emotional reactivity and executive functioning.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether "top-down" and "bottom-up" control processes can differentiate children with ADHD who exhibit co-occurring aggression and/or internalizing symptoms.


METHODS
Participants included 74 children (M age = 10.7 years) with a Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) diagnosis of ADHD. The authors' top-down measure was executive functioning (EF) indexed via two neuropsychological tasks whereas their bottom-up measure was emotional reactivity. Parents also reported on children's aggression and internalizing symptoms.


RESULTS
Emotional reactivity was associated with co-occurring aggressive symptoms, regardless of the presence of internalizing symptoms or ADHD symptom severity, whereas EF deficits were less likely to occur in children with ADHD and co-occurring internalizing symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors' findings highlight the importance of integrating top-down and bottom-up regulatory measures when studying the multipathway conception of ADHD and its co-occurring problems.
Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA. pgrazian@fiu.edu
Paulo A
PA
Graziano
Joseph P
JP
McNamara
Gary R
GR
Geffken
Adam M
AM
Reid
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013694:Temperament