Neural changes associated with treatment outcome in children with externalizing problems.
Steven Woltering1, Isabela Granic, Connie Lamm
1Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada. steven.woltering@utoronto.ca
Biological Psychiatry
|July 12, 2011
Summary
Treatment for childhood externalizing problems improved self-regulation (SR) by decreasing N2 magnitudes, a neural marker. This suggests enhanced efficiency in brain mechanisms underlying self-regulation in children who benefited from therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Externalizing problems in children are a significant concern.
- Self-regulation (SR) is crucial for managing behavior.
- Understanding neural correlates of SR can inform treatment effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between changes in neural correlates of self-regulation (SR) and treatment effectiveness for childhood externalizing problems.
- To examine electroencephalogram (EEG) correlates of SR before and after a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-one children (8-12 years) with externalizing behavior and their families participated.
- A 3-month CBT program with parent management training was administered.
- EEG during a go/no-go task assessed inhibitory control (SR) pre- and post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Pre-treatment, clinical sample showed larger N2 and smaller frontal P3 magnitudes compared to controls.
- Children who improved exhibited a significant decrease in N2 magnitude post-treatment.
- Improved children showed decreased activation in prefrontal cortex and anterior medial temporal lobe during N2.
Conclusions:
- Decreased N2 magnitudes and associated neural activation in children who improved suggest enhanced efficiency in self-regulation (SR) mechanisms.
- Changes in neural markers of SR are linked to successful treatment outcomes for externalizing behaviors.
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