Are novel serum inflammatory biomarkers and executive functions related to irritability in adolescents with DMDD?

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is characterized by chronic irritability and severe outbursts of anger and is increasingly being linked to underlying neurobiological and immunological mechanisms. Chronic inflammation is hypothesized to play a role in cognitive dysfunction in mood disorders. This study aimed to compare adolescents diagnosed with DMDD with a healthy control group in terms of executive functions (EF) and novel serum inflammatory biomarkers. A total of 26 adolescents with DMDD and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in the study. All participants completed the Affective Reactivity Index (ARI) and underwent structured diagnostic interviews (Kiddie-SADS). Executive functions were assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Stroop ColorWord Test (SCWT). Serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers were measured. In the DMDD group, there was a significant increase in systemic inflammatory biomarker levels compared to the control group. In addition, adolescents with DMDD showed poor performance in EF, particularly in measures reflecting cognitive flexibility and inhibition. Correlation analyses revealed that ARI scores were positively associated with both inflammatory markers and EF impairment. The results of this study may promote the hypothesis that inflammation plays an important role in the etiology of chronicirritability in adolescents. Additionally, this study suggests that adolescents diagnosed with DMDD face difficulties in EF. Youths with DMDD may benefit from specific therapeutic cognitive programs.