Dimensional Latent Structure of Early Disruptive Behavior Disorders: A Taxometric Analysis in Preschoolers

Kliem, Sören; Heinrichs, Nina; Lohmann, Anna; Bussing, Regina; Schwarzer, Gudrun; Briegel, Wolfgang

doi:10.1007/s10802-017-0383-5

Published: 15 December 2017

Dimensional Latent Structure of Early Disruptive Behavior Disorders: A Taxometric Analysis in Preschoolers

Sören Kliem ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1788-9574¹,
Nina Heinrichs²,
Anna Lohmann¹,
Regina Bussing³,
Gudrun Schwarzer⁴ &
Wolfgang Briegel⁵

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology volume 46, pages 1385–1394 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Although disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) are used as a distinct categorical diagnosis in clinical practice, they have repeatedly been described as having a dimensional structure in taxometric analyses. In the current study the authors analyzed the latent status of disruptive behaviors (DB) in a large sample (N = 2,808) of German preschool children (2–6 years old, mean age 53.7 months, SD = 13.5, 48.4% girls). The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) as well as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to compile indicators of the DB core dimensions (Temper Loss, Aggression, Noncompliance, and Low Concern for others). Three widely used taxometric methods (a) MAXEIG, (b) MAMBAC, and (c) L-Mode were applied. Simulation data were created to evaluate the Comparison Curve Fit Index values (CCFIs), which were below 0.45, supporting a dimensional solution. Hence, in the current study the latent structure of DB in preschoolers encompassed differences in degree rather than kind. Researchers and practitioners should be mindful of the dimensional latent status of DB in theory building, assessment, classification, and labeling.

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Notes

It should be noted that even for taxonic conditions (such as pregnancy, cancer, influenza infection), it is often important to know its stage or severity. Nonetheless, this is typically done after first assessing whether the condition is present.

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Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony, Lützerodestr. 9, 30161, Hannover, Germany
Sören Kliem & Anna Lohmann
Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Assessment, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Nina Heinrichs
Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Regina Bussing
Faculty 06 Psychology and Sport Science, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
Gudrun Schwarzer
Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Leopoldina Hospital Schweinfurt, Schweinfurt, Germany
Wolfgang Briegel

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Sören Kliem
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Nina Heinrichs
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Anna Lohmann
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Regina Bussing
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Gudrun Schwarzer
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Wolfgang Briegel
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Correspondence to Sören Kliem.

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Conflict of Interest

RB is member of an international development task force with advisory function for PCIT international (uncompensated activity). NH is Director of the University Outpatient Treatment Center for children, adolescents and adults in which they deliver PCIT to young children with ODD (including administration of the required ECBI as an assessment tool).

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All procedures involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Kliem, S., Heinrichs, N., Lohmann, A. et al. Dimensional Latent Structure of Early Disruptive Behavior Disorders: A Taxometric Analysis in Preschoolers. J Abnorm Child Psychol 46, 1385–1394 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-017-0383-5

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Published: 15 December 2017
Issue Date: October 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-017-0383-5

Keywords

Taxometrics
Disruptive behavior
Assessment
Pre-school children
Latent structure