Symptoms and Mechanisms of Child Psychiatric Disorders

University of Oslo (UIO)

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Oppositional Defiant Disorder; Severe Irritability; Child Psychiatric Disorders

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05049356

2017/135

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study the investigators will examine psychiatric symptoms, central neurocognitive functions, parental stress and attachment styles, and biological factors that can give new knowledge about some of the mechanisms present in children referred to outpatient psychiatric clinics. A specific focus will be given to children suffering from severe irritability.

Full description

In this study the investigators will examine psychiatric symptoms, central neurocognitive functions, parental stress and attachment styles, and biological factors that can give new knowledge about some of the mechanisms present in children referred to outpatient psychiatric service. A specific focus will be given to children suffering from severe irritability making problems at home, in school, and/or with peers.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is characterized by chronic and severe irritability and anger in children. DMDD understood as severe or clinical irritability can be regarded as laying above a certain threshold on a irritability continuum. Due to DMDD being a relatively new and debated diagnosis there is an urgent need to gain better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of severe irritability in children.

This study will explore emotion and behavior symptoms, neuropsychological functions (including social perception), perceived parental stress and attachment styles, and cortisol levels of children and their mothers, in children referred to outpatient psychiatric service including children with severe irritability. Parents of children 6 to 12 years will be informed and asked to participate.

The work on severe irritability will be divided into six main areas:

1. Severe irritability in a Norwegian clinical population: prevalence, comorbidity and associated difficulties
2. Social and emotional understanding in severe irritability in children
3. Executive function in severe irritability in children
4. Stress response in severe irritability in children
5. Parental stress and attachment style in parents of severe irritability in children
6. DMDD: An affective or conduct disorder? Comparing anxiety and depressive symptoms

Enrollment: 218 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Referred to outpatient psychiatric service
• Intelligence quotient (IQ) within normal range
• Child and parents: Good enough understanding of Norwegian language to give valid answers in interview and tests.
• Clarified care situation

Exclusion criteria

• IQ below normal range
• Child and parents: Not good enough understanding of Norwegian language to give valid answers in interview and tests
• Unclarified care situation

Trial design

218 participants in 2 patient groups

Children referred to outpatient clinic

Description:

Diagnostic interview (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) cf. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)) with parents. Diagnostic groups/cohorts (e.g., DMDD, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder) will be based on the diagnoses given cf. K-SADS.

Typical developing children and their parent(s)

Description:

Norm values on hair cortisol data will be obtained from typical developing children and their parent(s) by the same procedure as described under Outcome measure(s), 21. Stress Response by Cortisol levels.