Early Childhood Aggression in Autistic and Non-Autistic Preschoolers: Prevalence, Topography, and Relationship to Emotional Reactivity.

Objective: Despite heightened rates of aggressive behaviors among older autistic youth relative to non-autistic peers, less is known about these behaviors during early childhood. This study included 3 objectives to address this gap: (1) to establish the prevalence and topography (frequency, severity, type, context) of aggressive behaviors in a large sample of preschool-aged children using a developmentally sensitive parent-report measure; (2) to identify clinical correlates of aggression; and (3) to investigate whether different subgroups of autistic children can be identified based on their profiles of aggression, emotional reactivity, and autism traits.

Method: Data were analyzed from parents of 1,199 children 2 to 5 years of age (n = 622 autistic children) who completed the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles Scales (MAPS) aggression subscale and the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Young Child (EDI-YC) reactivity subscale.

The development and structure of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study EEG protocol.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. Electroencephalography (EEG) is one of two brain imaging modalities central to the HBCD Study. EEG records electrical signals from the scalp that reflect electrical brain activity.

Respiratory-swallow patterning and oropharyngeal swallowing impairment in patients undergoing evaluation for lung transplant.

Background: Although swallowing impairment is prevalent following lung transplantation, baseline respiratory and swallowing characteristics are often overlooked. Respiratory disease processes may predispose lung transplant candidates to altered respiratory-swallow patterning and swallowing impairment.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients referred for a Modified Barium Swallow Study during lung transplant evaluation.

What I see, what you say: How cross-method variation sharpens characterization of irritability in early childhood.

Objectives: Identification of clinically significant irritability in preschool age is important to implement effective interventions. However, varying informant and measurement methods display distinct patterns. These patterns are associated with concurrent and future mental health concerns.

Less attention to emotional faces is associated with low empathy and prosociality in 12-to 20-month old infants.

The development of empathy and prosocial behavior begins in infancy and is likely supported by emotion processing skills. The current study explored whether early emerging deficits in emotion processing are associated with disruptions in the development of empathy and prosociality. We investigated this question in a large, diverse sample of 147, 11- to 20-month-old infants (42% female; 61% Black; 67% low socioeconomic status).

Characterizing the spectrum of irritability in preadolescence: Dimensional and pragmatic applications.

Objectives: Characterize the dimensional spectrum of preadolescent (PA) irritability, a robust transdiagnostic vulnerability marker, using the youth version of the Multidimensional Assessment Profiles Temper Loss (MAPS-TL-Youth) scale including common and with developmentally specific items. Based on this, derive and validate a clinically optimized irritability screener to flag psychopathology risk in preadolescents.

Methods: The normal:abnormal irritability spectrum was modeled using MAPS-TL-Youth data from the Multidimensional Assessment of Preschoolers Study (MAPS) Study PA wave (n = 340) via item response theory.

Do general and specific factors of preschool psychopathology predict preadolescent outcomes? A transdiagnostic hierarchical approach.

Background: Preschool psychiatric symptoms significantly increase the risk for long-term negative outcomes. Transdiagnostic hierarchical approaches that capture general ('p') and specific psychopathology dimensions are promising for understanding risk and predicting outcomes, but their predictive utility in young children is not well established. We delineated a hierarchical structure of preschool psychopathology dimensions and tested their ability to predict psychiatric disorders and functional impairment in preadolescence.

Cannabis use during pregnancy and hemodynamic responses to infant cues in pregnancy: an exploratory study.

Introduction: Cannabis is one of the most commonly used substances during pregnancy and has the potential to negatively impact parent-infant relationships. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) response to infant cues during pregnancy has been associated with subsequent positive parenting behaviors. However, PFC activation is altered in individuals who use cannabis.

Developmentally specified characterization of the irritability spectrum at early school age: Implications for pragmatic mental health screening.

Objectives: Developmentally specified measures that identify clinically salient irritability are needed for early school-age youth to meaningfully capture this transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. Thus, the current study modeled the normal:abnormal irritability spectrum and generated a clinically optimized screening tool for this population.

Methods: The irritability spectrum was modeled via the youth version of the Multidimensional Assessment Profile Scales-Temper Loss Scale (MAPS-TL-Youth) in children (n = 474; 6.

A systematic review of interventions to ameliorate the impact of adversity on brain development.

Adversity, including abuse, neglect, and poverty, impacts child brain development. However, the developing brain is highly plastic, and some of the impacts of childhood adversity may be mitigated by psychosocial interventions. The purpose of this review is to synthesize literature on neural outcomes of childhood interventions among individuals exposed to adversity.

Differential associations of maternal behavior to preschool boys' and girls' executive function.

Boys are more sensitive to environmental factors like parental behavior, an important predictor of executive function. This study examined whether the interaction between child sex and maternal behavior was associated with children's executive function in a manner consistent with the vulnerability or differential susceptibility model. Participants were 146 36-month-old children and their mothers.

Roads Diverged: Developmental Trajectories of Irritability From Toddlerhood Through Adolescence.

Objective: Irritability is a dimensional trait that manifests from early life and is a robust transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology and impairment. A large, national dataset was leveraged to identify and broadly characterize trajectories from toddlerhood through adolescence, which is crucial for timely, targeted interventions.

Method: Data on irritability and a broad array of potential factors affecting irritability development from 4,462 children assessed longitudinally at ages 3, 5, 9, and 15 were included.

Development of a learning health system science competency assessment to guide training and proficiency assessment.

Introduction: Learning health systems (LHS) science is fundamentally a transdisciplinary field. To capture the breadth of the competencies of an LHS scientist, AHRQ and national experts defined a series of 42 competencies across seven domains that support success. Clinicians, researchers, and leaders who are new to the LHS field can identify and prioritize proficiency development among these domains.

Psychometric Validation of the Greek Version of the Scale "Temper Loss" of the Questionnaire "Multidimensional Assessment Profile of Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB)".

It has become increasingly evident that vulnerability to psychopathology is identifiable early in life. A body of evidence suggests that the recognition and prevention of a spectrum of typical/atypical behaviors in preschoolers can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. The Multidimensional Assessment Profile of Disruptive Behavior (MAP-DB) is a parent-completed instrument that has been developed recently to differentiate normative misbehaviors in early childhood from markers of clinical risk.

Measuring PROMIS® Well-Being in Early Childhood.

Objective: Expand the current Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) well-being measures to early childhood (1-5 years) using best practices from PROMIS and developmental science.

Methods: Qualitative methods included expert input, literature and measure review, and parent interviews to confirm measure frameworks, item understandability, and developmental appropriateness. Quantitative methods included two waves of field testing and item response theory (IRT)-based psychometric evaluation of reliability and validity, as well as IRT centering and item calibration.

Psychometric Considerations in Developing PROMIS® Measures for Early Childhood.

Objective: The early expression of lifespan health and disease states can often be detected in early childhood. Currently, the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) includes over 300 measures of health for individuals ages 5 years and older. We extended PROMIS to early childhood by creating developmentally appropriate, lifespan coherent parent-report measures for 1-5-year-olds.

Measuring PROMIS® Physical Activity and Sleep Problems in Early Childhood.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) and sleep are leading health indicators for individuals of all ages. Monitoring young children's PA and sleep using psychometrically sound instruments could help facilitate timely interventions to promote healthy development. This article describes the development of the PROMIS® Early Childhood (EC) Parent Report Physical Activity (PA) and Sleep Problems (SP) measures for children aged 1-5 years.