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Callous-unemotional traits drive reduced white-matter integrity in youths with conduct problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2015

A. L. Breeden ,
E. M. Cardinale ,
L. M. Lozier ,
J. W. VanMeter  and
A. A. Marsh
A. L. Breeden
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
E. M. Cardinale
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
L. M. Lozier
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
J. W. VanMeter
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
A. A. Marsh*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
*
* Address for correspondence: Dr A. A. Marsh, Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA. (Email: aam72@georgetown.edu)
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Abstract

Background.

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits represent a significant risk factor for severe and persistent conduct problems in children and adolescents. Extensive neuroimaging research links CU traits to structural and functional abnormalities in the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In addition, adults with psychopathy (a disorder for which CU traits are a developmental precursor) exhibit reduced integrity in uncinate fasciculus, a white-matter (WM) tract that connects prefrontal and temporal regions. However, research in adolescents has not yet yielded similarly consistent findings.

Method.

We simultaneously modeled CU traits and externalizing behaviors as continuous traits, while controlling for age and IQ, in order to identify the unique relationship of each variable with WM microstructural integrity, assessed using diffusion tensor imaging. We used tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate fractional anisotropy, an index of WM integrity, in uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis in 47 youths aged 10–17 years, of whom 26 exhibited conduct problems and varying levels of CU traits.

Results.

Whereas both CU traits and externalizing behaviors were negatively correlated with WM integrity in bilateral uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis/fornix, simultaneously modeling both variables revealed that these effects were driven by CU traits; the severity of externalizing behavior was not related to WM integrity after controlling for CU traits.

Conclusions.

These results indicate that WM abnormalities similar to those observed in adult populations with psychopathy may emerge in late childhood or early adolescence, and may be critical to understanding the social and affective deficits observed in this population.

Keywords

Callous-unemotional traitsconduct problemsdiffusion tensor imaginguncinate fasciculuswhite matter
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 45 , Issue 14 , October 2015 , pp. 3033 - 3046
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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