TY - JOUR A1 - Pitzer, Martina A1 - Jennen-Steinmetz, Christine A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Schmidt, Martin H. A1 - Laucht, Manfred T1 - Prediction of preadolescent depressive symptoms from child temperament, maternal distress, and gender results of a prospective, longitudinal study JF - Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics N2 - Objective: The delineation of developmental pathways to juvenile depressive symptoms is of major clinical interest because these are known to be predictive for adult mood disorders and for a range of other mental health problems. This study investigates the impact of child temperament and early maternal distress, both of which are known to influence children's emotional development, on preadolescent depression. Methods: In a prospective, longitudinal at-risk sample (163 boys, 178 girls), we assessed temperament at the age of 3 months and at 2 years, 4.5 years, and 8 years, respectively, and chronic maternal distress during infancy. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to investigate the prediction of depressive symptoms at the age of 11 years measured by the Child Depression Inventory. In addition, we controlled for psychosocial and obstetric perinatal risks and gender. Results: Psychosocial risks and self-control temperament made significant independent contributions to preadolescent depression, whereas fearful, difficult temperament and obstetric risks were unrelated to depressive outcome. Interestingly, a clear gender difference emerged with a significant prediction from maternal distress only in girls. Conclusions: Our data extend previous findings of a concurrent association between regulative temperament and juvenile depression to a predictive view. Furthermore, the results point toward gender-specific pathways to preadolescent depression and support earlier findings indicating that subclinical maternal distress may exert as detrimental effects on child development as clinical depression. KW - preadolescent depression KW - temperament KW - maternal distress KW - gender Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181f4a474 SN - 0196-206X VL - 32 IS - 1 SP - 18 EP - 26 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Holtmann, Martin A1 - Buchmann, Arlette F. A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Schmidt, Martin H. A1 - Banaschewski, Tobias A1 - Laucht, Manfred T1 - The child behavior checklist-dysregulation profile predicts substance use, suicidality, and functional impairment a longitudinal analysis JF - The journal of child psychology and psychiatry N2 - Background: Recent studies have identified a Child Behavior Checklist profile that characterizes children with severe affective and behavioral dysregulation (CBCL-dysregulation profile, CBCL-DP). In two recent longitudinal studies the CBCL-DP in childhood was associated with heightened rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders, among them bipolar disorder, an increased risk for suicidality, and marked psychosocial impairment at young-adult follow-up. This is the first study outside the US that examines the longitudinal course of the CBCL-DP. Methods: We studied the diagnostic and functional trajectories and the predictive utility of the CBCL-DP in the Mannheim Study of Children at Risk, an epidemiological cohort study on the outcome of early risk factors from birth into adulthood. A total of 325 young adults (151 males, 174 females) participated in the 19-year assessment. Results: Young adults with a higher CBCL-DP score in childhood were at increased risk for substance use disorders, suicidality and poorer overall functioning at age 19, even after adjustment for parental education, family income, impairment and psychiatric disorders at baseline. Childhood dysregulation was not related to bipolar disorder in young adulthood. The CBCL-DP was neither a precursor of a specific pattern of comorbidity nor of comorbidity in general. Conclusions: Children with high CBCL-DP values are at risk for later severe, psychiatric symptomatology. The different developmental trajectories suggest that the CBCL-DP is not simply an early manifestation of a single disease process but might rather be an early developmental risk marker of a persisting deficit of self-regulation of affect and behavior. KW - Dysregulation KW - childhood KW - comorbidity KW - longitudinal KW - irritability KW - depression KW - ADHD KW - substance use KW - suicidality KW - CBCL KW - bipolar Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02309.x SN - 0021-9630 VL - 52 IS - 2 SP - 139 EP - 147 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Witt, Stephanie H. A1 - Buchmann, Arlette F. A1 - Blomeyer, Dorothea A1 - Nieratschker, Vanessa A1 - Treutlein, Jens A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Schmidt, Martin H. A1 - Bidlingmaier, Martin A1 - Wiedemann, Klaus A1 - Rietschel, Marcella A1 - Laucht, Manfred A1 - Wuest, Stefan A1 - Zimmermann, Ulrich S. T1 - An interaction between a neuropeptide Y gene polymorphism and early adversity modulates endocrine stress responses JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology N2 - Interindividual variability in the regulation of the human stress system accounts for a part of the individual's liability to stress-related diseases. These differences are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Early childhood adversity is a well-studied environmental factor affecting an individual's stress response which has been shown to be modulated by gene environment interaction (GxE). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a role in stress regulation and genetic variation in NPY may influence stress responses. In this study, we analyzed the association of a common variant in the NPY gene promoter, rs16147, with cortisol and ACTH responses to acute psychosocial stress in young adults from the Mannheim Study of Children at Risk (MARS), an ongoing epidemiological cohort study following the outcome of early adversity from birth into adulthood. We found evidence of a GxE interaction between rs16147 and early adversity significantly affecting HPA axis responses to acute psychosocial stress. These findings suggest that the neurobiological mechanisms linking early adverse experience and later neuroendocrine stress regulation are modulated by a gene variant whose functional relevance is documented by increasing convergent evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies. KW - GxE interaction KW - Stress KW - HPA KW - Neuropeptide Y KW - Early adversity Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.12.015 SN - 0306-4530 VL - 36 IS - 7 SP - 1010 EP - 1020 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bakhshayesh, Ali Reza A1 - Hänsch, Sylvana A1 - Wyschkon, Anne A1 - Rezai, Mohammad Javad A1 - Esser, Günter T1 - Neurofeedback in ADHD a single-blind randomized controlled trial JF - European child and adolescent psychiatry : offical journal of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry N2 - Neurofeedback treatment has been demonstrated to reduce inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, previous studies did not adequately control confounding variables or did not employ a randomized reinforcer-controlled design. This study addresses those methodological shortcomings by comparing the effects of the following two matched biofeedback training variants on the primary symptoms of ADHD: EEG neurofeedback (NF) aiming at theta/beta ratio reduction and EMG biofeedback (BF) aiming at forehead muscle relaxation. Thirty-five children with ADHD (26 boys, 9 girls; 6-14 years old) were randomly assigned to either the therapy group (NF; n = 18) or the control group (BF; n = 17). Treatment for both groups consisted of 30 sessions. Pre- and post-treatment assessment consisted of psychophysiological measures, behavioural rating scales completed by parents and teachers, as well as psychometric measures. Training effectively reduced theta/beta ratios and EMG levels in the NF and BF groups, respectively. Parents reported significant reductions in primary ADHD symptoms, and inattention improvements in the NF group were higher compared to the control intervention (BF, d(corr) = -.94). NF training also improved attention and reaction times on the psychometric measures. The results indicate that NF effectively reduced inattention symptoms on parent rating scales and reaction time in neuropsychological tests. However, regarding hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms, the results imply that non-specific factors, such as behavioural contingencies, self-efficacy, structured learning environment and feed-forward processes, may also contribute to the positive behavioural effects induced by neurofeedback training. KW - Biofeedback KW - Neurofeedback KW - EMG biofeedback KW - ADHD KW - Single-blind Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0208-y SN - 1018-8827 VL - 20 IS - 9 SP - 481 EP - 491 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmid, Brigitte A1 - Blomeyer, Dorothea A1 - Buchmann, Arlette F. A1 - Trautmann-Villalba, Patricia A1 - Zimmermann, Ulrich S. A1 - Schmidt, Martin H. A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Banaschewski, Tobias A1 - Laucht, Manfred T1 - Quality of early mother-child interaction associated with depressive psychopathology in the offspring - a prospective study from infancy to adulthood JF - Journal of psychiatric research N2 - Evidence from animal research has revealed that less maternal care results in disturbed emotionality in the offspring. In the present study, the long-term impact of maternal responsiveness and stimulation during early mother child interaction on depressive psychopathology was examined until adulthood. Data are from an epidemiological cohort study of the long-term outcome of early risk factors assessed at birth. At age 3 months, mothers and infants were videotaped during a nursing and playing situation. Maternal responsiveness and stimulation as well as infant responsiveness were evaluated by trained raters. At age 19 years, 314 participants (145 males, 169 females) were characterized on measures of depression through interview and questionnaire. In addition, measures of depression and anxiety were available from assessments in childhood. Results indicated that less maternal stimulation during early interaction was associated with a higher risk of depression in the offspring until the age of 19 years. In addition, children of less stimulating mothers showed more depressive symptoms at age 19 years and displayed more anxiety and depressive symptoms between the ages of 4.5 and 15 years. In contrast, maternal responsiveness was unrelated to children's outcome. In accordance with findings from animal research, the present study provides first longitudinal evidence in humans of a continuous and long-term influence of early maternal interaction behavior on the offspring's psychological adjustment until adulthood. The results suggest that the amount of maternally initiated contact behavior in a very early developmental stage may be crucial for children's mental health, regardless of child and maternal responsiveness. KW - Depression KW - Mother-infant interaction KW - Longitudinal study KW - Young adulthood KW - Infancy Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.05.010 SN - 0022-3956 VL - 45 IS - 10 SP - 1387 EP - 1394 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pitzer, Martina A1 - Jennen-Steinmetz, Christine A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Schmidt, Martin H. A1 - Laucht, Manfred T1 - Differential susceptibility to environmental influences the role of early temperament and parenting in the development of externalizing problems JF - Comprehensive psychiatry : official journal of the American Psychopathological Association N2 - Objective: A difficult or undercontrolled temperament, as well as harsh parental discipline or a lack of warmth, has long been regarded as risk factors for the development of externalizing problems. In addition, it has been suggested that children with difficult temperament are especially susceptible to rearing influences. We investigated the impact of early temperament and parenting and their interactions on externalizing behavior at school age. Methods: Participants were 148 boys and 160 girls from a prospective longitudinal study on a high-risk sample. At ages 3 months and 2 years, temperament was assessed by a highly structured parent interview and standardized behavioral observations. Maternal parenting was assessed by videotaped behavioral observation and a parent questionnaire. Externalizing problems at age 8 years were measured by the Child Behavior Checklist. Results: Using hierarchical linear regression analyses, we found that externalizing problems were predicted by psychosocial adversity and poor self-control, whereas no main effect for restrictive parenting or maternal empathy was found. Fearful-inhibited boys were positively affected by empathic and sensitive parenting, whereas girls who were low in self-control and/or fearful developed less externalizing problems with restrictive parenting. Conclusion: Our results partly support the differential susceptibility hypothesis. In addition, they point toward gender-specific pathways in the development of externalizing problems. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.10.017 SN - 0010-440X VL - 52 IS - 6 SP - 650 EP - 658 PB - Elsevier CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Wyschkon, Anne T1 - Diagnostik bei Kindern und Jugendlichen Y1 - 2011 SN - 978-3-932096-97-6 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Holtmann, Martin A1 - Buchmann, Arlette F. A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Schmidt, Martin H. A1 - Banaschewski, Tobias A1 - Laucht, Manfred T1 - The child behavior checklist-dysregulation profile predicts substance use, suicidality, and functional impairment : a longitudinal analysis N2 - Recent studies have identified a Child Behavior Checklist profile that characterizes children with severe affective and behavioral dysregulation (CBCL-dysregulation profile, CBCL-DP). In two recent longitudinal studies the CBCL-DP in childhood was associated with heightened rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders, among them bipolar disorder, an increased risk for suicidality, and marked psychosocial impairment at young-adult follow-up. This is the first study outside the US that examines the longitudinal course of the CBCL-DP. Methods: We studied the diagnostic and functional trajectories and the predictive utility of the CBCL-DP in the Mannheim Study of Children at Risk, an epidemiological cohort study on the outcome of early risk factors from birth into adulthood. A total of 325 young adults (151 males, 174 females) participated in the 19-year assessment. Results: Young adults with a higher CBCL-DP score in childhood were at increased risk for substance use disorders, suicidality and poorer overall functioning at age 19, even after adjustment for parental education, family income, impairment and psychiatric disorders at baseline. Childhood dysregulation was not related to bipolar disorder in young adulthood. The CBCL-DP was neither a precursor of a specific pattern of comorbidity nor of comorbidity in general. Conclusions: Children with high CBCL-DP values are at risk for later severe, psychiatric symptomatology. The different developmental trajectories suggest that the CBCL-DP is not simply an early manifestation of a single disease process but might rather be an early developmental risk marker of a persisting deficit of self-regulation of affect and behavior. Y1 - 2011 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Esser, Günter A1 - Blank, Sarah T1 - Wirksamkeit von Psychotherapie im Kindes- und Jugendalter N2 - Psychotherapeutic interventions require empirical as well as scientific assessment. Specifically, the proven efficacy of psychotherapy for children and adolescents is essential. Thus, studies examining treatment efficacy and meta- analyses are necessary to compare effect sizes of individual therapeutic interventions between treatment groups and waiting control groups. Assessment of 138 primary studies from 1993-2009 documented the efficacy of psychotherapy for children and adolescents. Furthermore, behavioural therapy outperformed non-behavioural interventions, as 90 % of behavioural interventions showed larger effect sizes compared to non-behavioural psychotherapy. Analysis of moderator variables demonstrated an improved treatment efficacy for individual therapy, inclusion of the family, treatment of internalised disorders, and in clinical samples. Stability of psychotherapeutic treatment effects over time was demonstrated. Y1 - 2011 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bakhshayesh, Ali Reza A1 - Hänsch, Sylvana A1 - Wyschkon, Anne A1 - Rezai, Mohammad Javad A1 - Esser, Günter T1 - Neurofeedback in ADHD : a single-blind randomized controlled trial N2 - Neurofeedback treatment has been demonstrated to reduce inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, previous studies did not adequately control confounding variables or did not employ a randomized reinforcer-controlled design. This study addresses those methodological shortcomings by comparing the effects of the following two matched biofeedback training variants on the primary symptoms of ADHD: EEG neurofeedback (NF) aiming at theta/beta ratio reduction and EMG biofeedback (BF) aiming at forehead muscle relaxation. Thirty-five children with ADHD (26 boys, 9 girls; 6-14 years old) were randomly assigned to either the therapy group (NF; n = 18) or the control group (BF; n = 17). Treatment for both groups consisted of 30 sessions. Pre- and post-treatment assessment consisted of psychophysiological measures, behavioural rating scales completed by parents and teachers, as well as psychometric measures. Training effectively reduced theta/beta ratios and EMG levels in the NF and BF groups, respectively. Parents reported significant reductions in primary ADHD symptoms, and inattention improvements in the NF group were higher compared to the control intervention (BF, dcorr = -.94). NF training also improved attention and reaction times on the psychometric measures. The results indicate that NF effectively reduced inattention symptoms on parent rating scales and reaction time in neuropsychological tests. However, regarding hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms, the results imply that non-specific factors, such as behavioural contingencies, self-efficacy, structured learning environment and feed-forward processes, may also contribute to the positive behavioural effects induced by neurofeedback training. Y1 - 2011 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Esser, Günter T1 - Verhaltenstherapie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen Y1 - 2011 SN - 978-3-932096-97-6 ER -