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The structure of adolescent psychopathology: a symptom-level analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2015

N. Carragher ,
M. Teesson ,
M. Sunderland ,
N. C. Newton ,
R. F. Krueger ,
P. J. Conrod ,
E. L. Barrett ,
K. E. Champion ,
N. K. Nair  and
T. Slade
N. Carragher*
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Office of Medical Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
M. Teesson
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
M. Sunderland
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
N. C. Newton
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
R. F. Krueger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
P. J. Conrod
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
E. L. Barrett
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
K. E. Champion
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
N. K. Nair
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
T. Slade
Affiliation:
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr N. Carragher, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New SouthWales, NSW 2052, Australia. (Email: n.carragher@unsw.edu.au)
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Abstract

Background

Most empirical studies into the covariance structure of psychopathology have been confined to adults. This work is not developmentally informed as the meaning, age-of-onset, persistence and expression of disorders differ across the lifespan. This study investigates the underlying structure of adolescent psychopathology and associations between the psychopathological dimensions and sex and personality risk profiles for substance misuse and mental health problems.

Method

This study analyzed data from 2175 adolescents aged 13.3 years. Five dimensional models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and the external validity was examined using a multiple-indicators multiple-causes model.

Results

A modified bifactor model, with three correlated specific factors (internalizing, externalizing, thought disorder) and one general psychopathology factor, provided the best fit to the data. Females reported higher mean levels of internalizing, and males reported higher mean levels of externalizing. No significant sex differences emerged in liability to thought disorder or general psychopathology. Liability to internalizing, externalizing, thought disorder and general psychopathology was characterized by a number of differences in personality profiles.

Conclusions

This study is the first to identify a bifactor model including a specific thought disorder factor. The findings highlight the utility of transdiagnostic treatment approaches and the importance of restructuring psychopathology in an empirically based manner.

Keywords

Adolescentsexternalizinggeneral psychopathologyinternalizingmeta-structurethought disorder
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 46 , Issue 5 , April 2016 , pp. 981 - 994
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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