title: A general psychopathology factor in early adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, a general psychopathology dimension reflecting common aspects among disorders has been identified in adults. This has not yet been considered in children and adolescents, where the focus has been on externalising and internalising dimensions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the existence, correlates and predictive value of a general psychopathology dimension in young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Alternative factor models were estimated using self-reports of symptoms in a large community-based sample aged 11-13.5 years (N = 23 477), and resulting dimensions were assessed in terms of associations with external correlates and future functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both a traditional two-factor model and a bi-factor model with a general psychopathology bi-factor fitted the data well. The general psychopathology bi-factor best predicted future psychopathology and academic attainment. Associations with correlates and factor loadings are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A general psychopathology factor, which is equal across genders, can be identified in young people. Its associations with correlates and future functioning indicate that investigating this factor can increase our understanding of the aetiology, risk and correlates of psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Praveetha Patalay, MPhil, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, FMedSci, University College London, London, UK; Jessica Deighton, PhD, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Jay Belsky, PhD, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Panos Vostanis, MB, MD, FRCPsych, The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, Leicester University, Leicester, UK; Miranda Wolpert, DClinPsychol, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK praveetha.patalay.11@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Praveetha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patalay
authors.affiliation: Praveetha Patalay, MPhil, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, FMedSci, University College London, London, UK; Jessica Deighton, PhD, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Jay Belsky, PhD, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Panos Vostanis, MB, MD, FRCPsych, The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, Leicester University, Leicester, UK; Miranda Wolpert, DClinPsychol, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fonagy
authors.affiliation: Praveetha Patalay, MPhil, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, FMedSci, University College London, London, UK; Jessica Deighton, PhD, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Jay Belsky, PhD, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Panos Vostanis, MB, MD, FRCPsych, The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, Leicester University, Leicester, UK; Miranda Wolpert, DClinPsychol, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deighton
authors.affiliation: Praveetha Patalay, MPhil, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, FMedSci, University College London, London, UK; Jessica Deighton, PhD, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Jay Belsky, PhD, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Panos Vostanis, MB, MD, FRCPsych, The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, Leicester University, Leicester, UK; Miranda Wolpert, DClinPsychol, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belsky
authors.affiliation: Praveetha Patalay, MPhil, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, FMedSci, University College London, London, UK; Jessica Deighton, PhD, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Jay Belsky, PhD, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Panos Vostanis, MB, MD, FRCPsych, The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, Leicester University, Leicester, UK; Miranda Wolpert, DClinPsychol, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vostanis
authors.affiliation: Praveetha Patalay, MPhil, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, FMedSci, University College London, London, UK; Jessica Deighton, PhD, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK; Jay Belsky, PhD, Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Panos Vostanis, MB, MD, FRCPsych, The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, Leicester University, Leicester, UK; Miranda Wolpert, DClinPsychol, Evidence Based Practice Unit (EBPU), University College London, and the Anna Freud Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolpert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011599:Psychopathology; D057566:Self Report