Neural correlates of reactive aggression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbid disruptive behaviour disorders

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol. 133; no. 4; pp. 310 - 323
• Main Authors: Bubenzer-Busch, S., Herpertz-Dahlmann, B., Kuzmanovic, B., Gaber, T. J., Helmbold, K., Ullisch, M. G., Baurmann, D., Eickhoff, S. B., Fink, G. R., Zepf, F. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aggression - psychology; aggressive behaviour; Aggressiveness; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - diagnostic imaging; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - psychology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnostic imaging; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Behavior disorders; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Comorbidity; disruptive behaviour disorders; fMRI; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neuroimaging - methods; point subtraction aggression game; disruptive behaviour disorders; fMRI; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; point subtraction aggression game; aggressive behaviour
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 1600-0447
• DOI: 10.1111/acps.12475

Objective Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often linked with impulsive and aggressive behaviour, indexed by high comorbidity rates between ADHD and disruptive behaviour disorders (DBD). The present study aimed to investigate underlying neural activity of reactive aggression in children with ADHD and comorbid DBD using functional neuroimaging techniques (fMRI). Method Eighteen boys with ADHD (age 9–14 years, 10 subjects with comorbid DBD) and 18 healthy controls were administered a modified fMRI‐based version of the ‘Point Subtraction Aggression Game’ to elicit reactive aggressive behaviour. Trials consisted of an ‘aggression phase’ (punishment for a fictitious opponent) and an ‘outcome phase’ (presentation of the trial outcome). Results During the aggression phase, higher aggressive responses of control children were accompanied by higher activation of the ventral anterior cingulate cortex and the temporoparietal junction. Patients displayed inverted results. During the outcome phase, comparison between groups and conditions showed differential activation in the dorsal striatum and bilateral insular when subjects gained points. Losing points was accompanied by differential activation of regions belonging to the insula and the middle temporal sulcus. Conclusion Data support the hypothesis that deficient inhibitory control mechanisms are related to increased impulsive aggressive behaviour in young people with ADHD and comorbid DBD.