Abstract
BACKGROUND
Covariation among psychiatric symptoms is being actively pursued for transdiagnostic
dimensions of psychopathology with predictive utility. A superordinate dimension,
p-factor, reflects overall psychopathology burden and has support from genetic and
neuroimaging correlates. However, the neurocognitive correlates which link elevated
p-factor to maladaptive outcomes are unknown. We tested the mediating potential of
dynamic adjustments in cognitive control rooted in functional connections anchored
by dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), in a transdiagnostic pediatric sample.
METHODS
A multiple mediation model tested the association between p-factor (derived by principal component analysis of Child Behavior Checklist syndrome
scales) and outcome measured with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-II in 89 8-13
year-old children (23 female) with a variety of primary neurodevelopmental diagnoses,
who underwent fMRI during a socio-affective Stroop-like task with eye-gaze as distractor.
Mediators included functional connectivity of frontoparietal and salience network-affiliated
dACC seeds during conflict adaptation.
RESULTS
Higher p-factor related to worse adaptive functioning. This effect was partially mediated
by conflict adaptation-dependent functional connectivity between the frontoparietal
network-affiliated dACC seed and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Post-hoc
follow-up indicated that p-factor related to all VABS domains; association was strongest for Socialization followed
by Daily Living Skills then Communication. Mediation results remained significant
for Socialization only.
CONCLUSIONS
Higher psychopathology burden was associated with worse adaptive functioning in early
adolescence. This association was mediated by weaker dACC-DLPFC functional connectivity
underlying modulation of cognitive control in response to contextual contingencies.
Our results contribute to the identification of transdiagnostic and developmentally
relevant neurocognitive endophenotypes of psychopathology.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
July 8,
2022
Received in revised form:
July 8,
2022
Received:
April 25,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc on behalf of Society of Biological Psychiatry.
