Callous and uncaring traits are associated with reductions in amygdala volume among youths with varying levels of conduct problems

AbstractBackgroundThe emergence of callous unemotional (CU) traits, and associated externalizing behaviors, is believed to reflect underlying dysfunction in the amygdala. Studies of adults with CU traits or psychopathy have linked characteristic patterns of amygdala dysfunction to reduced amygdala volume, but studies in youths have not thus far found evidence of similar amygdala volume reductions. The current study examined the association between CU traits and amygdala volume by modeling CU traits and externalizing behavior as independent continuous variables, and explored the relative contributions of callous, uncaring, and unemotional traits.MethodsCU traits and externalizing behavior problems were assessed in 148 youths using the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits (ICU) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). For a subset of participants (n= 93), high-resolution T1-weighted images were collected and volume estimates for the amygdala were extracted.ResultsAnalyses revealed that CU traits were associated with increased externalizing behaviors and decreased bilateral amygdala volume. These results were driven by the callous and uncaring sub-factors of CU traits, with unemotional traits unrelated to either externalizing behaviors or amygdala volume. Results persisted after accounting for covariation between CU traits and externalizing behaviors. Bootstrap mediation analyses indicated that CU traits mediated the relationship between reduced amygdala volume and externalizing severity.ConclusionsThese findings provide evidence that callous-uncaring traits account for reduced amygdala volume among youths with conduct problems. These findings provide a framework for further investigation of abnormal amygdala development as a key causal pathway for the development of callous-uncaring traits and conduct problems.

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Callous-unemotional traits drive reduced white-matter integrity in youths with conduct problems

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291715000987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (14) ◽

pp. 3033-3046 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

A. L. Breeden ◽

E. M. Cardinale ◽

L. M. Lozier ◽

J. W. VanMeter ◽

A. A. Marsh

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Externalizing Behaviors ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Stria Terminalis ◽

Uncinate Fasciculus ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional

Background.Callous-unemotional (CU) traits represent a significant risk factor for severe and persistent conduct problems in children and adolescents. Extensive neuroimaging research links CU traits to structural and functional abnormalities in the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In addition, adults with psychopathy (a disorder for which CU traits are a developmental precursor) exhibit reduced integrity in uncinate fasciculus, a white-matter (WM) tract that connects prefrontal and temporal regions. However, research in adolescents has not yet yielded similarly consistent findings.Method.We simultaneously modeled CU traits and externalizing behaviors as continuous traits, while controlling for age and IQ, in order to identify the unique relationship of each variable with WM microstructural integrity, assessed using diffusion tensor imaging. We used tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate fractional anisotropy, an index of WM integrity, in uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis in 47 youths aged 10–17 years, of whom 26 exhibited conduct problems and varying levels of CU traits.Results.Whereas both CU traits and externalizing behaviors were negatively correlated with WM integrity in bilateral uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis/fornix, simultaneously modeling both variables revealed that these effects were driven by CU traits; the severity of externalizing behavior was not related to WM integrity after controlling for CU traits.Conclusions.These results indicate that WM abnormalities similar to those observed in adult populations with psychopathy may emerge in late childhood or early adolescence, and may be critical to understanding the social and affective deficits observed in this population.

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Emotion Processing in Children with Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Traits: An Investigation of Speed, Accuracy, and Attention

Child Psychiatry & Human Development ◽

10.1007/s10578-020-00976-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 721-733

Author(s):

Daniela Hartmann ◽

Christina Schwenck

Keyword(s):

Emotion Recognition ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Emotion Processing ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Callous Unemotional Traits ◽

Unemotional Traits ◽

Speed Accuracy

Abstract This study aimed to assess whether callous-unemotional traits (CU) are associated with deficits in emotion recognition independent of externalizing behavior and whether such deficits can be explained by aberrant attention. As previous studies have produced inconsistent results, the current study included two different emotion recognition paradigms and assessed the potential influence of factors such as processing speed and attention. The study included N = 94 children (eight to 14 years) with an oversampling of children with conduct problems (CP) and varying levels of CU-traits. Independent of externalizing behavior, CU-traits were associated with slower recognition of angry, sad and fearful facial expressions but not with higher error rates. There was no evidence that the association between CU-traits and emotion processing could be explained by misguided attention. Our results implicate that in children with high levels of CU-traits emotion recognition deficits depend on deficits in processing speed.

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Externalizing behavior severity in youths with callous–unemotional traits corresponds to patterns of amygdala activity and connectivity during judgments of causing fear

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579417000566 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 191-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Elise M. Cardinale ◽

Andrew L. Breeden ◽

Emily L. Robertson ◽

Leah M. Lozier ◽

John W. Vanmeter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Connectivity ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Externalizing Behaviors ◽

Judgment Task ◽

Blood Oxygenation ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Oxygenation Level ◽

Amygdala Activity

AbstractCallous–unemotional (CU) traits characterize a subgroup of youths with conduct problems who exhibit low empathy, fearlessness, and elevated externalizing behaviors. The current study examines the role of aberrant amygdala activity and functional connectivity during a socioemotional judgment task in youths with CU traits, and links these deficits to externalizing behaviors. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare neural responses in 18 healthy youths and 30 youths with conduct problems and varying levels of CU traits as they evaluated the acceptability of causing another person to experience each of several emotions, including fear. Neuroimaging analyses examined blood oxygenation level dependent responses and task-dependent functional connectivity. High-CU youths exhibited left amygdala hypoactivation relative to healthy controls and low-CU youths primarily during evaluations of causing others fear. CU traits moderated the relationship between externalizing behavior and both amygdala activity and patterns of functional connectivity. The present data suggest that CU youths' aberrant amygdala activity and connectivity affect how they make judgments about the acceptability of causing others emotional distress, and that these aberrations represent risk factors for externalizing behaviors like rule breaking and aggression. These findings suggest that reducing externalizing behaviors in high-CU youths may require interventions that influence affective sensitivity.

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Neural responses to fearful eyes in children with conduct problems and varying levels of callous–unemotional traits

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291713000482 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 99-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

C. L. Sebastian ◽

E. J. McCrory ◽

M. R. Dadds ◽

C. A. M. Cecil ◽

P. L. Lockwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conduct Problems ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Neural Responses ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Callous Unemotional Traits ◽

Unemotional Traits ◽

Amygdala Response ◽

Eye Region

BackgroundChildren with conduct problems (CP) are a heterogeneous group. Those with high levels of callous–unemotional traits (CP/HCU) appear emotionally under-reactive at behavioural and neural levels whereas those with low levels of CU traits (CP/LCU) appear emotionally over-reactive, compared with typically developing (TD) controls. Investigating the degree to which these patterns of emotional reactivity are malleable may have important translational implications. Instructing participants with CP/HCU to focus on the eyes of fearful faces (i.e. the most salient feature) can ameliorate their fear-recognition deficits, but it is unknown whether this is mediated by amygdala response. It is also unknown whether focusing on fearful eyes is associated with increased amygdala reactivity in CP/LCU.MethodFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure neural responses to fearful and calm faces in children with CP/HCU, CP/LCU and TD controls (n = 17 per group). On half of trials participants looked for a blue dot anywhere within target faces; on the other half, participants were directed to focus on the eye region.ResultsReaction time (RT) data showed that CP/LCU were selectively slowed in the fear/eyes condition. For the same condition, CP/LCU also showed increased amygdala and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC)/orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) responses compared with TD controls. RT and amygdala response to fear/eyes were correlated in CP/LCU only. No effects of focusing on the eye region were observed in CP/HCU.ConclusionsThese data extend the evidence base suggesting that CU traits index meaningful heterogeneity in conduct problems. Focusing on regulating reactive emotional responses may be a fruitful strategy for children with CP/LCU.

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Callous-Unemotional Traits in Children and Adolescents

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000449 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 101-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marina Carvalho ◽

Miguel Faria ◽

Andreia Conceição ◽

Margarida Gaspar de Matos ◽

Cecilia A. Essau

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Conduct Problems ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Factor Model ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Psychosocial Impairment ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Unemotional Traits ◽

Valid Instrument

Abstract. The Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits (ICU) was developed to measure callous-unemotional (CU) psychopathic traits in children and adolescents. Studies that have examined the factor structure of ICU showed considerable controversy. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric proprieties of the Portuguese translation of the ICU. A total of 1,011 children and adolescents (495 boys and 516 girls), mean age of 13.36 years, participated in this study. Exploratory factor analysis produced two factors: uncaring and callousness; Cronbach’s α for each of the factor was .83 and .79 for the total score. Significant main gender and interaction between gender and age effects were found; girls reported lower CU traits than boys; children reported higher CU traits compared to preadolescents and adolescents, particularly in boys. CU also correlated with emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and psychosocial impairment. Furthermore, CU traits related to conduct problems both in boys and in girls, although this relationship was higher for boys. To conclude, findings of the present study showed that the Portuguese version of the ICU seems to be a reliable and valid instrument to assess CU traits among children and adolescents in Portugal. However, the original 3-factor model was not supported.

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Attachment and Externalizing Behavior: Mediation through Dysfunctional Emotion Regulation and Callous-Unemotional Traits

International Journal of Developmental Science ◽

10.3233/dev-200291 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Naska Goagoses ◽

Ute Koglin

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Behavior Problems ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Externalizing Behavior Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Attachment Representations ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Callous Unemotional Traits ◽

Unemotional Traits

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether the association between parental attachment and externalizing behavior is parallelly mediated by dysfunctional emotion regulation and callous-unemotional traits. The community sample included 296 adolescents (Mage = 14.90, SDage = 1.31), who completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits, the Regulation of Emotions Questionnaire, and the Youth Self-Report Child Behavior Checklist. A mediation analysis revealed both direct and indirect effects. Secure attachment representations were negatively associated with internal- and external dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies and callous-unemotional traits, which in turn were positively associated with externalizing behavior problems. The current study expands previous research by simultaneously investigating familial and cognitive factors that foster externalizing behavior problems. An attachment-based perspective offers new possibilities for theory expansion, research directions, and the development of interventions.

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Child maltreatment, callous–unemotional traits, and defensive responding in high-risk children: An investigation of emotion-modulated startle response

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579415000929 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (4pt2) ◽

pp. 1527-1545 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Melissa N. Dackis ◽

Fred A. Rogosch ◽

Dante Cicchetti

Keyword(s):

Child Maltreatment ◽

Antisocial Behavior ◽

Low Income ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Startle Response ◽

Self Report ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Unemotional Traits

AbstractChild maltreatment is associated with disruptions in physiological arousal, emotion regulation, and defensive responses to cues of threat and distress, as well as increased risk for callous unemotional (CU) traits and externalizing behavior. Developmental models of CU traits have focused on biological and genetic risk factors that contribute to hypoarousal and antisocial behavior, but have focused less on environmental influences (Blair, 2004; Daversa, 2010; Hare, Frazell, & Cox, 1978; Krueger, 2000; Shirtcliff et al., 2009; Viding, Fontaine, & McCrory, 2012). The aim of the present investigation was to measure the independent and combined effects of child maltreatment and high CU traits on emotion-modulated startle response in children. Participants consisted of 132 low-income maltreated (n= 60) and nonmaltreated (n= 72) children between 8 and 12 years old who attended a summer camp program. Acoustic startle response (ASR) was elicited in response to a 110-dB 50-ms probe while children viewed a slideshow of pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant IAPS images. Maltreatment status was assessed through examination of Department of Human Services records. CU traits were measured using counselor reports from the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits (Frick, 2004), and conduct problems were measured using counselor and child self-report. We found no significant differences in emotion-modulated startle in the overall sample. However, significant differences in ASR by maltreatment status, maltreatment subtype, and level of CU traits were apparent. Results indicated differential physiological responses for maltreated and nonmaltreated children based on CU traits, including a pathway of hypoarousal for nonmaltreated/high CU children that differed markedly from a more normative physiological trajectory for maltreated/high CU children. Further, we found heightened ASR for emotionally and physically neglected children with high CU and elevated antisocial behavior in these children. Results provide further support for differential trajectories by which experience and biology may influence the development of antisocial behavior in youth and highlight potential avenues for intervention.

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Callous-unemotional Traits: Verhaltensprobleme und prosoziales Verhalten bei Kindergartenkindern

Kindheit und Entwicklung ◽

10.1026/0942-5403/a000080 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 141-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ute Koglin ◽

Franz Petermann

Keyword(s):

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Antisocial Process Screening Device ◽

Callous Unemotional Traits ◽

Prosoziales Verhalten ◽

Unemotional Traits ◽

Screening Device

Callous-unemotional Traits (CU-Traits) stellen in der emotionalen Entwicklung Abweichungen dar, wie mangelnde Empathie oder ein oberflächlicher Affekt und gehören zu den Kernmerkmalen der Psychopathy. Aus einer entwicklungspsychopathologischen Sichtweise wird in der vorliegenden Studie untersucht, ob diese affektiven Merkmale bereits bei Kindern im Kindergartenalter zu identifizieren sind und sie mit Verhaltensproblemen, besonders mit externalisierenden Verhaltensproblemen, im Zusammenhang stehen. Anhand einer Stichprobe mit 311 Kindern (durchschnittlich 5;0 Jahre) wird die Anzahl der Kinder mit Callous-unemotional-Traits (CU-Traits), erfasst mit dem „Antisocial Process Screening Device“ (APSD), identifiziert. Es werden quer- und längsschnittliche Zusammenhange zwischen CU-Traits und Erlebens- und Verhaltensprobleme (SDQ) dargestellt. 23,3 % der Kinder weisen erhöhte Werte auf der Skala CU-Traits auf. Jüngere Kinder erreichen höhere Werte, so dass normative Entwicklungseinflüsse nahe gelegt werden. Es zeigen sich eindeutige Beziehungen zwischen CU-Traits und Verhaltensproblemen sowie negative Korrelationen zu prosozialem Verhalten. In der längsschnittlichen Analyse über ein Jahr erweisen sich CU-Traits als Prädiktor für Verhaltensprobleme. Ein spezifischer Zusammenhang zwischen aggressivem Verhalten und CU-Traits kann nicht aufgezeigt werden. CU-Traits stehen besonders mit einem Defizit prosozialen Verhaltens in Verbindung. Es wird diskutiert, ob CU-Traits bei jungen Kindern dazu geeignet sind, aggressive Kinder frühzeitig zu identifizieren.

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