Author:
Boyce W. Thomas,Quas Jodi,Alkon Abbey,Smider Nancy A.,Essex Marilyn J.,Kupfer David J.,
Abstract
BackgroundBetter indicators are needed for identifying children with early signs of developmental psychopathology.AimsTo identify measures of autonomic nervous system reactivity that discriminate children with internalising and externalising behavioural symptoms.MethodA cross-sectional study of 122 children aged 6–7 years examined sympathetic and parasympathetic reactivity to standardised field-laboratory stressors as predictors of parent— and teacher-reported mental health symptoms.ResultsMeasures of autonomic reactivity discriminated between children with internalising behaviour problems, externalising behaviour problems and neither. Internalisers showed high reactivity relative to low-symptom children, principally in the parasympathetic branch, while externalisers showed low reactivity, in both autonomic branches.ConclusionsSchool-age children with mental health symptoms showed a pattern of autonomic dimorphism in their reactivity to standardised challenges. This observation may be of use in early identification of children with presyndromal psychopathology.
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cited by
231 articles.
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