scholarly journals Pubertal Timing as a Transdiagnostic Risk for Psychopathology in Youth

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elissa J. Hamlat ◽  
Hannah R. Snyder ◽  
Jami F. Young ◽  
Benjamin L. Hankin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Pubertal Timing ◽  
Organizational Models ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Early Pubertal Timing ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Different Levels

Evidence suggests that early pubertal timing may operate as a transdiagnostic risk factor (i.e., shared across syndromes of psychopathology) for both genders. The current study examined associations between pubertal timing and dimensional psychopathology, structured across different levels of three organizational models: (a) DSM-based syndrome model, (b) traditional model of internalizing and externalizing factors, and (c) bifactor (p factor) model, which includes a general psychopathology factor as well as internalizing- and externalizing-specific factors. For study analyses, 567 youth-parent pairs completed psychopathology measures when youths (55.5% female) were 13.58 years old ( SD = 2.37, range = 9–17 years). Findings across all models revealed that early pubertal timing served as a transdiagnostic risk factor and also displayed some syndrome-specific associations. Gender did not moderate any relationships between pubertal timing and psychopathology. Study findings reinforce the importance of examining risk across different levels of psychopathology conceptualization and analysis.

scholarly journals The p Factor and the n Factor: Associations Between the General Factors of Psychopathology and Neuroticism in Children

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra M Brandes ◽  
Kathrin Herzhoff ◽  
Avante J Smack ◽  
Jennifer L Tackett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Negative Emotionality ◽  
General Factor ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Bifactor Models ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Latent Dimension ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Research across age groups has consistently indicated that psychopathology has a general factor structure, such that there is a broad latent dimension (or p factor) capturing variance common to all mental disorders, as well as specific internalizing and externalizing factors. This research has found that the p factor overlaps substantially with trait negative emotionality (or neuroticism). However, less is known about the psychological substance of the specific factors of the general psychopathology model, or how lower-order facets of neuroticism may relate to each psychopathology factor. We investigated the structure of neuroticism and psychopathology, as well as associations between these domains in a sample of 695 pre-adolescent children using multi-method assessments. We found that both psychopathology and neuroticism may be well-characterized by bifactor models, and that there was substantial overlap between psychopathology (p) and neuroticism (n) general factors, as well as between specific factors (Internalizing with Fear, Externalizing with Irritability).

scholarly journals The p Factor and the n Factor: Associations Between the General Factors of Psychopathology and Neuroticism in Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1266-1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra M. Brandes ◽  
Kathrin Herzhoff ◽  
Avanté J. Smack ◽  
Jennifer L. Tackett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Negative Emotionality ◽  
General Factor ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Bifactor Models ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Latent Dimension ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Research across age groups has consistently indicated that psychopathology has a general factor structure such that a broad latent dimension (or p factor) captures variance common to all mental disorders as well as specific internalizing and externalizing factors. This research has found that the p factor overlaps substantially with trait negative emotionality (or neuroticism). However, less is known about the psychological substance of the specific factors of the general psychopathology model or how lower-order facets of neuroticism may relate to each psychopathology factor. We investigated the structure of neuroticism and psychopathology as well as associations between these domains using multimethod assessments in a sample of 695 preadolescent children. We found that both psychopathology and neuroticism may be well characterized by bifactor models and that there was substantial overlap between psychopathology (p) and neuroticism (n) general factors as well as between specific factors (Internalizing with Fear, Externalizing with Irritability).

scholarly journals Strong Homotypic Continuity in Common Psychopathology-, Internalizing-, and Externalizing-Specific Factors Over Time in Adolescents

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah R. Snyder ◽  
Jami F. Young ◽  
Benjamin L. Hankin
Keyword(s):  
Community Sample ◽  
Strong Stability ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Bifactor Models ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
The Stability ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Heterotypic Continuity ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Over Time

Dimensional models of psychopathology that posit a general psychopathology factor (i.e., p factor), in addition to specific internalizing and externalizing factors, have recently gained prominence. However, the stability of these factors and the specificity with which they are related to one another over time (e.g., homotypic or heterotypic continuity) have not been investigated. The current study addressed these questions. We estimated bifactor models, with p, internalizing-specific, and externalizing-specific factors, with youth and caretaker reports of symptoms at two time points (18 months apart), in a large community sample of adolescents. Results showed strong stability over time with highly specific links (i.e., p factor at Time 1 to Time 2; internalizing-specific at Time 1 to Time 2 and externalizing-specific at Time 1 to Time 2), suggesting strong homotypic continuity between higher order latent psychopathology factors.

scholarly journals Toward a Functional View of the p Factor in Psychopathology

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 880-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Carver ◽  
Sheri L. Johnson ◽  
Kiara R. Timpano
Keyword(s):  
Process Variable ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Thought Disorder ◽  
Dual Process ◽  
Functional Interpretation ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Underlying Process ◽  
Deliberative System ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Evidence indicates the existence of a superordinate factor of general psychopathology, which has been termed p. Among the issues raised by this discovery is whether this factor has substantive meaning or not. This article suggests a functional interpretation of the p factor, based in part on a family of dual process models, in which an associative system and a deliberative system compete for influence over action. The associative system is frequently said to be impulsively responsive to emotions. We hypothesize that this impulsive responsivity to emotion underlies the p factor. One benefit of this view is to use the same underlying process variable to account for both internalizing and externalizing vulnerabilities as well as aspects of thought disorder. Evidence is reviewed linking impulsive reactivity to emotion to the p factor and (separately) to internalizing, externalizing, and thought-disorder symptoms. Alternative interpretations are considered.

scholarly journals Appropriate use of bifactor analysis in psychopathology research: appreciating benefits and limitations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Bornovalova ◽  
Alexandria M. Choate ◽  
Haya Fatimah ◽  
Karl J. Petersen ◽  
Brenton M. Wiernik
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fit Statistics ◽  
Bifactor Models ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
P Factor

Co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders is well-documented. Recent quantitative efforts have moved toward an understanding of this phenomenon, with the ‘general psychopathology’ or p-factor model emerging as the most prominent characterization. Over the past decade, bifactor model analysis has become increasingly popular as a statistical approach to describe common/shared and unique elements in psychopathology. However, recent work has highlighted potential problems with common approaches to evaluating and interpreting bifactor models. Here, we argue that, when properly applied and interpreted, bifactor models can be useful for answering some important questions in psychology and psychiatry research. We review problems with evaluating bifactor models based on global model fit statistics. We then describe more valid approaches to evaluating bifactor models and highlight three types of research questions for which bifactor models are well-suited to answer. We also discuss the utility and limits of bifactor applications in genetic and neurobiological research. We close by comparing advantages and disadvantages of bifactor models to other analytic approaches and noting that no statistical model is a panacea to rectify limitations of the research design used to gather data.

Evaluating Bifactor Models of Psychopathology Using Model-Based Reliability Indices

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Constantinou ◽  
Peter Fonagy
Keyword(s):  
Bifactor Model ◽  
Common Variance ◽  
Reliability Indices ◽  
Bifactor Models ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Explained Common Variance ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing ◽  
Variance Explained

There is has been a rapid increase in quantitative researchers applying the bifactor model to psychopathology data. The bifactor model, which typically includes a general p factor and internalizing and externalizing residual factors, consistently demonstrates superior model fit to competing models, including the correlated factors model, which typically includes internalizing and externalizing factors. However, the bifactor model’s superior fit might stem from its tendency to overfit noise and flexibly fit most datasets. An alternative approach to evaluating bifactor models that does not rely on fit statistics is model-based reliability assessment. Reliability indices, including omega/omega hierarchical, explained common variance, and percent uncontaminated correlations can be used to determine the viability of the general and specific psychopathology factors and the extent that the underlying data structure and its measurement is multidimensional. In this methodological review, we identified 49 studies published between 2009 and 2019 that applied the bifactor model to at least two separate symptom domains and calculated reliability indices from the standardized factor loading matrices. We also predicted variation in the p factor’s strength, indexed by the explained common variance, from study characteristics. We found that psychopathology measures tend to be multidimensional, with 57% of the variance explained by the p factor and the remaining variance explained by specific factors. By contrast, most of the variance in observed total scores (74%) was explained by the p factor, while relatively little of the variance in in observed subscale scores (37%) was explained by specific factors beyond the p factor. Finally, 62% of the variability in the p factor’s strength could be predicted by study characteristics, most notably the informant (in a simultaneous regression model), but also age, percent uncontaminated correlations, and the number of items (in separate regression models). We conclude that the latent structure of psychopathology is multidimensional, but its measurement is governed by a single dimension, the strength of which is predicted by study characteristics, particularly the informant.

Predicting the General P-factor of Psychopathology using Lower Levels of the Personality Hierarchy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzhan Hang ◽  
Lydia Gabriela Speyer ◽  
Liina Haring ◽  
Aja Louise Murray ◽  
René Mõttus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Thought Disorders ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
P Factor

Background: Mental health disorders share a substantial amount of variance, reflecting a generalised vulnerability to any and all mental health problems. Studies on personality-psychopathology associations have previously been mainly focused at the domain-level of the personality hierarchy even though research has indicated that lower level personality traits (facets and nuances) capture valid unique variance beyond domains. The current study investigated the associations between the general ‘p-factor’ of psychopathology and multiple levels of the personality hierarchy in order to gain finer-grained insights into their relations. Methods: First, the structure of psychopathology was modelled using an exploratory bi-factor model of 23 items measuring symptoms of mental health problems using the DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure and the ASSIST questionnaire in a sample of 1,853 Estonian adults. Factor scores for the p-factor and orthogonal specific factors were estimated and elastic net regression models trained to examine the predictive ability of the different levels of the personality hierarchy for these factor scores.Results: A bi-factor model including a general factor and three specific factors representing internalising problems, thought disorders and substance use best represented the structure of psychopathology. Elastic net regression analyses indicated that personality traits related to the vulnerability, depression and immoderation facets were most strongly positively associated with the p-factor while traits related to the friendliness facet and the achievement-striving facet showed the strongest negative associations. Nuance-level analyses had the highest predictive accuracy for all psychopathology factors, particularly for thought disorders and substance use. Conclusion: Lower levels of the personality hierarchy contain additional information about psychopathology. Utilising this information opens up avenues for clinical applications that may help identify individuals most at risk for developing mental health disorders.

scholarly journals The General Psychopathology Factor from Early to Middle Childhood: Longitudinal Genetic and Risk Analyses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reut Avinun ◽  
Ariel Knafo-Noam ◽  
Salomon Israel
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
General Psychopathology ◽  
Developmental Problems ◽  
Continuity And Change ◽  
P Factor

Background: Accumulating research suggests the structure of psychopathology is best represented by continuous higher-order dimensions, including a general dimension, p-factor, and more specific dimensions, such as externalizing and internalizing factors. Here, we aimed to 1) replicate the p-factor in early childhood; 2) externally validate the dimensions with measures relating to mental health; 3) examine stability and change of the genetic and environmental influences on the dimensions of psychopathology from early- to mid-childhood; and 4) test the links between the factors and pregnancy, obstetric, and neonatal measures. Methods: The Longitudinal Israeli Study of Twins from age 3 to 9 was used for the analyses. Data was available for 2770 children at age 3, 1908 at age 5, 1020 at age 6.5, and 973 at age 8-9. Mothers reported on developmental problems, pregnancy, obstetric, and neonatal conditions, and filled in questionnaires on each twin's externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Possible correlates of psychopathology, as reported by the twins or assessed in the lab, were also included. Results: A bi-factor model that included the p-factor and specific/residualized externalizing and internalizing factors fit the data best at each wave. Longitudinal twin analyses indicated that shared environmental influences do not contribute to psychopathology and that the p-factor is highly heritable (64-73%) with a substantial proportion of the genetic influences already present at age 3. When the p-factor is accounted for, the internalizing factor was also highly heritable, while the externalizing factor was mostly explained by non-shared environmental influences. Higher p-factor scores were associated with more developmental problems and lower self-esteem. Pregnancy, obstetric, and neonatal measures were not strongly associated with psychopathology. Conclusion: Our study suggests that a general psychopathology factor is discernible in early childhood and highly heritable, with genetic factors contributing to continuity and change during childhood.

scholarly journals Do executive functions explain the covariance between internalizing and externalizing behaviors?

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1371-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander S. Hatoum ◽  
Soo Hyun Rhee ◽  
Robin P. Corley ◽  
John K. Hewitt ◽  
Naomi P. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Externalizing Behavior ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Change Factors ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
P Factor ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

AbstractThis study examined whether executive functions (EFs) might be common features of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems across development. We examined relations between three EF latent variables (a common EF factor and factors specific to updating working memory and shifting sets), constructed from nine laboratory tasks administered at age 17, to latent growth intercept (capturing stability) and slope (capturing change) factors of teacher- and parent-reported internalizing and externalizing behaviors in 885 individual twins aged 7 to 16 years. We then estimated the proportion of intercept–intercept and slope–slope correlations predicted by EF as well as the association between EFs and a common psychopathology factor (P factor) estimated from all 9 years of internalizing and externalizing measures. Common EF was negatively associated with the intercepts of teacher-rated internalizing and externalizing behavior in males, and explained 32% of their covariance; in the P factor model, common EF was associated with the P factor in males. Shifting-specific was positively associated with the externalizing slope across sex. EFs did not explain covariation between parent-rated behaviors. These results suggest that EFs are associated with stable problem behavior variation, explain small proportions of covariance, and are a risk factor that that may depend on gender.

Perceived pubertal timing and borderline personality pathology in female adolescent inpatients

2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-170
Author(s):  
Francesca Penner ◽  
Carla Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Pubertal Timing ◽  
Adolescent Psychopathology ◽  
Pubertal Development ◽  
Externalizing Disorders ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Female Adolescent ◽  
Personality Pathology ◽  
Early Pubertal Timing ◽  
Adolescent Inpatients ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Borderline personality pathology typically onsets during adolescence. An important consideration in understanding adolescent psychopathology is pubertal development. Perceived pubertal timing is one facet of puberty that is especially relevant to adolescent psychopathology, especially when timing is perceived to be early. Despite links between early pubertal timing and core features of borderline personality disorder, and between early pubertal timing and disruptions in the interpersonal context, perceived pubertal timing has yet to be studied in relation to adolescent borderline pathology. This preliminary study aimed to test the association between perceived pubertal timing and borderline symptoms in adolescent girls, controlling for internalizing and externalizing pathology. Forty-two female adolescent inpatients (ages 12–15, Mage = 14.02, 81% White) completed measures of perceived pubertal development and borderline symptoms and a diagnostic interview. Results indicated that earlier perceived pubertal timing was uniquely associated with higher borderline symptoms even when internalizing and externalizing disorders were covaried.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document