Associations Between Resting State Functional Connectivity and a Hierarchical Dimensional Structure of Psychopathology in Middle Childhood

Abstract Background Previous research from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ (ABCD) study delineated and validated a hierarchical 5-factor structure with a general psychopathology (‘p’) factor at the apex and five specific factors (internalizing, somatoform, detachment, neurodevelopmental, externalizing) using parent-reported child symptoms. The current study is the first examining associations between dimensions from a hierarchical structure and resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) networks. Methods Using 9-11-year-old children from the ABCD Study® baseline sample, we examined the variance explained by each hierarchical structure level (p-factor, 2-factor, 3-factor, 4-factor, and 5-factor models) in associations with RSFC. Analyses were first conducted in a discovery dataset (n=3790) with significant associations examined in a replication dataset (n=3791). Results The current study found robust associations between p-factor and lower connectivity within default mode network (DMN), although stronger effects emerged for the neurodevelopmental factor. Neurodevelopmental impairments were also related to variation in RSFC networks associated with attention to internal states and external stimuli. Analyses revealed robust associations within DMN, DMN with cingulo-opercular (CON) and ‘Other’ (Unassigned) networks, and dorsal attention with ‘Other’ network. Conclusion The hierarchical structure of psychopathology showed replicable links to RSFC alterations in middle childhood. The specific neurodevelopmental dimension showed robust associations with multiple RSFC impairments. Results show the utility of examining associations between intrinsic brain architecture and specific dimensions of psychopathology, revealing associations especially with neurodevelopmental impairments.