Wenyan Zhang, Xiaohui Song, Anyi Zhang, Liping Yu, Xianbin Wang, Zhongliang Jiang, Yonghua Cui, Ying Li
{"title":"Network relationships between emotional dysregulation and ADHD symptoms: an investigation of 13,207 clinical children and adolescents.","authors":"Wenyan Zhang, Xiaohui Song, Anyi Zhang, Liping Yu, Xianbin Wang, Zhongliang Jiang, Yonghua Cui, Ying Li","doi":"10.1007/s00787-025-02819-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study employed network analysis to examine the co-occurrence patterns of emotional dysregulation (ED) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in clinically referred children and adolescents. A total of 13,207 children and adolescents meeting the research criteria were included in the analysis. ED was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-dysregulation profile (SDQ-DP), while ADHD symptoms were evaluated using The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale-IV, parent-report version (SNAP-IV). The study examined central and bridging symptoms within the network model. The research identified that the node SNAP-2 (\"Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities\") is the most central symptom in the ED-ADHD co-occurrence network model. Nodes SDQ-2 (\"Restless, overactive, cannot stay still for long\"), SDQ-13 (\"Often unhappy, depressed or tearful\"), and SDQ-5 (\"Often loses temper\") emerged as core symptoms within the ED community, indicating that excitability, depression, and irritability are common subtypes of emotional dysregulation in the co-occurrence model. Bridging symptoms include node SDQ-2 (\"Restless, overactive, cannot stay still for long\"), node SDQ-15 (\"Easily distracted, concentration wanders\"), and node SNAP-14 (\"Often is 'on the go' or acts as if 'driven by a motor'\"), linking hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and attention deficits with co-occurring emotional dysregulation. The core and bridging symptoms identified in this study may serve as targets for prevention and treatment of co-occurring ED and ADHD in clinical children and adolescents. The most common subtypes of emotional dysregulation symptoms co-occurring with ADHD represent targets for personalized treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":11856,"journal":{"name":"European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02819-1","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PEDIATRICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study employed network analysis to examine the co-occurrence patterns of emotional dysregulation (ED) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in clinically referred children and adolescents. A total of 13,207 children and adolescents meeting the research criteria were included in the analysis. ED was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-dysregulation profile (SDQ-DP), while ADHD symptoms were evaluated using The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Rating Scale-IV, parent-report version (SNAP-IV). The study examined central and bridging symptoms within the network model. The research identified that the node SNAP-2 ("Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities") is the most central symptom in the ED-ADHD co-occurrence network model. Nodes SDQ-2 ("Restless, overactive, cannot stay still for long"), SDQ-13 ("Often unhappy, depressed or tearful"), and SDQ-5 ("Often loses temper") emerged as core symptoms within the ED community, indicating that excitability, depression, and irritability are common subtypes of emotional dysregulation in the co-occurrence model. Bridging symptoms include node SDQ-2 ("Restless, overactive, cannot stay still for long"), node SDQ-15 ("Easily distracted, concentration wanders"), and node SNAP-14 ("Often is 'on the go' or acts as if 'driven by a motor'"), linking hyperactive/impulsive symptoms and attention deficits with co-occurring emotional dysregulation. The core and bridging symptoms identified in this study may serve as targets for prevention and treatment of co-occurring ED and ADHD in clinical children and adolescents. The most common subtypes of emotional dysregulation symptoms co-occurring with ADHD represent targets for personalized treatment.
期刊介绍:
European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is Europe''s only peer-reviewed journal entirely devoted to child and adolescent psychiatry. It aims to further a broad understanding of psychopathology in children and adolescents. Empirical research is its foundation, and clinical relevance is its hallmark.
European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry welcomes in particular papers covering neuropsychiatry, cognitive neuroscience, genetics, neuroimaging, pharmacology, and related fields of interest. Contributions are encouraged from all around the world.