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Behavioral inhibition and disinhibition as hypothesized precursors to psychopathology: implications for pediatric

Dina R Hirshfeld-Becker1, Joseph Biederman, Sara Calltharp

  • 1Pediatric Psychopharmacology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, Massacusetts 02138, USA.

Biological Psychiatry
|June 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Early childhood behavioral inhibition predicts social anxiety, while behavioral disinhibition links to disruptive and mood disorders. This research explores temperamental risk factors for child psychopathology.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Psychopathology Research

Background:

  • Temperamental risk factors for child psychopathology are identifiable early in life.
  • Behavioral inhibition to the unfamiliar in early childhood is linked to later social anxiety disorder.
  • Behavioral disinhibition in early childhood is associated with disruptive behavior and mood disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate temperamental precursors to psychopathology in high-risk children.
  • To summarize existing literature on behavioral inhibition and disinhibition as predictors of later disorders.
  • To propose future research directions for identifying temperamental precursors to pediatric bipolar disorder.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing standardized laboratory observations to measure temperamental qualities in toddlers and young children.
  • Reviewing programmatic research and existing literature on behavioral inhibition and disinhibition.
  • Applying established methodologies to the study of high-risk pediatric populations.

Main Results:

  • Established evidence links "behavioral inhibition to the unfamiliar" with subsequent social anxiety disorder.
  • Recent findings suggest "behavioral disinhibition" is associated with later disruptive behavior and comorbid mood disorders.
  • The study highlights the utility of early temperament assessment for predicting psychopathology.

Conclusions:

  • Temperamental traits like behavioral inhibition and disinhibition serve as crucial early indicators of potential psychopathology.
  • Early identification of these temperamental factors can inform targeted interventions and preventative strategies.
  • Further research is warranted to explore these temperamental precursors in relation to pediatric bipolar disorder.

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