Calibrating temper loss severity in the transition to toddlerhood: Implications for developmental science

Abstract

The integration of neurodevelopmental perspectives into clinical science has identified irritability as an early dimensional marker of lifespan mental health risk. Elucidating the developmental patterning of irritable behavior is key to differentiating normative variation from risk markers. Accounting for dysregulation and contextual features of irritability is useful for differentiation at preschool age, laying the groundwork for even earlier characterization. We provide initial evidence for the validity of the Multidimensional Assessment Profile of Disruptive Behavior Temper Loss Scale, Infant-Toddler version in two independent samples of 12-18-month-olds from the US. We calibrated the measure using item response theory in a large representative sample, then validated within an independent sample. We characterized the developmental patterning of irritable behaviors and their dimensional spectrum, and demonstrated test-retest reliability, and convergent validity. The MAP-DB-IT is a standardized, dimensional survey assessing irritability that serves as a tool for characterizing the developmental expression of early mental health risk.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge contributions of our collaborators including Elizabeth Norton, PhD, Megan Roberts, PhD, Ryne Estabrook, PhD and Erica Anderson, PhD. This work could not have been done without the exceptional efforts of our W2W study team, with special thanks to Amy Biel, MPH & Hannah Stroup, MA. We are deeply appreciative of our W2W study families for their generous participation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

De-identified data will be made available following publication by request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a National Institute of Mental Health grant to Lauren Wakschlag (R01MH107652) including a supplement supporting contributions of Amanda Nili (R01MH107652S1).