Irritability and Family Environment in a multigenerational cohort: Brazilian High Risk Cohort Study (BHRCS)

• Grant number: 24/22041-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Eurípedes Constantino Miguel Filho
• Grantee: Luísa Shiguemi Sugaya
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02157-9 - Irritability and family environment in a multigenerational cohort: Brazilian High Risk Cohort Study (BHRCS), AP.R

Abstract

In childhood, irritability is a relevant clinical construct. It is a symptom of different psychiatric disorders - such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression, and is also considered a risk marker for mental health. Prospective longitudinal studies have shown that children with high levels of irritability are at greater risk of developing internalizing and externalizing disorders, suicidal behavior and presenting functional impairments throughout development. Genetic factors and factors related to the family environment, such as parental psychopathology and inconsistent parenting, have been associated with irritability. However, other characteristics of the family environment, such as socioeconomic factors, family cohesion, conflict and control, have not been investigated. Furthermore, previous studies on the relationship between irritability and the family environment only evaluated symptoms of irritability without considering the presence of other psychopathological alterations, or investigated only specific aspects of the family environment without considering the interactions between them. Furthermore, few studies have evaluated the bidirectional relationship between irritability and the family environment, limiting the interpretation of the findings. Objectives: thus, this project aims to advance the knowledge about the relationship between irritability and family environment, using data from the Brazilian Transgenerational High-Risk Cohort for Mental Conditions (BHRCS), a prospective transgenerational cohort study. To this end, two studies will be carried out. The objectives of each study are: Study 1 - evaluate, through network analysis, the relationship between: (a) irritability and symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and depression (b) factors related to the family environment (including socioeconomic factors; maltreatment; family cohesion, conflict and control; and parental psychopathology), and (c) genetic factors. Study 2 - evaluate the mediating role of the family environment in the relationship between parental psychopathology and irritability in preschool children; and evaluate, in a prospective model, the mediating role of children's irritability in the relationship between parental psychopathology in adolescence and parental psychopathology in adulthood. Methods: study 1 will be developed with data from 2511 BHRCS participants, collected in 3 time points. And study 2 will be developed with data from 267 of the 2511 BHRCS participants who have at least one child; and 322 BHRCS participants' children. The 4th wave of evaluations of BHRCS participants is ongoing. And the assessment of participants' children will be carried out, as part of this project, through 60-90 minutes of online interviews, with the primary caregiver by a trained psychologist. For statistical analyses, in study 1, we will use network analysis, and in study 2 we will use structural equation models. Implications: the results of this project may expand knowledge about the relationship between irritability and the family environment; and thus inform the development of early interventions and prevention strategies. Furthermore, the data from the evaluation of the BHRCS participants' children will be added to the BHRCS database to be used in new studies that will make relevant contributions to the field.