Abstract
Background: Youth with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure have high rates of behavioral concerns and psychopathology, including increased oppositional and conduct behaviors. The relation between those concerns and executive function (EF) deficits is unknown. We investigated the association of oppositional and conduct behavior and EF in adolescents to inform targeted intervention. Methods: Subjects (N = 267) ages 10 to 17 years comprised 3 groups: alcohol-exposed with oppositional/conduct behaviors (AE+), alcohol-exposed without oppositional/conduct behaviors (AE−), and controls (CON). Group differences on direct neuropsychological (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System [D-KEFS]) and indirect parent-report (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function [BRIEF]) EF measures were tested with multivariate analysis of covariances, followed by univariate analysis of variances and pairwise comparisons. The contribution of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within the AE groups was assessed in secondary analyses. Results: On the D-KEFS, there was an omnibus main effect of group, with significant main effects on 3 of 6 variables (CON>AE+, AE−). Within the AE groups, ADHD did not alter the results. On the BRIEF, there was an omnibus significant main effect of group, with significant main effects on all scales (CON<AE−<AE+). Within the AE groups, the AE+ group had higher BRIEF scores (i.e., more difficulty) than the AE− group on 4 of 8 subscales when accounting for presence of ADHD. Conclusions: EF deficits in youth with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure were confirmed using direct and indirect measures. Oppositional/conduct behaviors related to EF deficits on indirect but not direct EF measures. Greater understanding of the contribution of concurrent psychopathology to long-term outcomes for alcohol-exposed youth requires further investigation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1135-1144 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Reprint requests: Sarah N. Mattson, PhD, 6330 Alvarado Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92120; Tel.: 619-594-7228; Fax: 619-594-1895; E-mail: sarah.mattson@sdsu.edu All or part of this work was done in conjunction with the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD), which is funded by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Additional information about CIFASD can be found at www.cifasd.org. © 2019 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.
Funding Information:
Research described in this paper was supported by NIAAA grant number U01 AA014834. Additional support was provided by F31 AA025256, U24 AA014811, U24 AA014815. The authors thank the families who graciously participate in our studies. The authors have no financial or other conflicts of interest.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the Research Society on Alcoholism
Keywords
- Executive Function
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Neurobehavioral Profile