| Literature DB >> 34773521 |
Sören Kliem1, Yvonne Krieg2, Thimna Klatt3, Dirk Baier4.
Abstract
A large amount of research has addressed the issue of the latent status of psychiatric disorders and related phenomena. We used a new taxometric approach developed by Ruscio to examine the latent status of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in a large representative study of German ninth graders (N = 3,878). Rather than estimating a putative taxon base rate and using that estimate to generate the taxon comparative data, we estimated CCFI profiles with each base rate estimate between 2.5% and 97.5% in increments of 2.5%. Results of different indicator sets clearly suggested a dimensional solution. This finding is consistent with different studies showing the dimensionality of psychopathy in adolescents. In summary, the results of this study point to the need for critical reflection in defining a high-risk-group in the context of CU traits. However, further studies are necessary to substantiate this result in different samples using different measurement approaches.Entities:
Keywords: Assessment; Callous Unemotional Traits (CU traits); Latent Structure; Psychopathy; Taxometrics
Mesh:
Substances:
Year: 2021 PMID: 34773521 PMCID: PMC9130161 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00885-y
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol ISSN: 2730-7166
Results from the Taxometric Analysis
| Indicator selection | Sample | Base rate / Size of the potential taxon group | Indicator correlation | CCFI profile | Interpretation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full sample | 8.1% / | Range = 0.86–1.64 | Average: 0.31 Taxon: 0.12 Complement: 0.27 | MAXEIG = 0.320 MAMBAC = 0.355 L-MODE = 0.289 | dimensional | |
| Male Sample | 10.9% / | Range = 0.70–1.64 | Average: 0.28 Taxon: 0.12 Complement: 0.24 | MAXEIG = 0.395 MAMBAC = 0.273 L-MODE = 0.325 M = 0.328 | dimensional | |
| Female Sample | 5.4% / | Range = 1.07–1.50 | Average: 0.34 Taxon: 0.16 Complement:0.29 | MAXEIG = 0.245 MAMBAC = 0.425 L-MODE = 0.245 | dimensional | |
| Full sample | 8.1% / | Range = 0.86–1.64 | Average: 0.33 Taxon: 0.11 Complement: 0.28 | MAXEIG = 0.320 MAMBAC = 0.355 L-MODE = 0.289 | dimensional | |
| Male Sample | 10.9% / | Range = 0.76–1.64 | Average: 0.30 Taxon: 0.11 Complement: 0.25 | MAXEIG = 0.397 MAMBAC = 0.412 L-MODE = 0.333 | dimensional | |
| Female Sample | 5.4% / | Range = 1.07–152 | Average: 0.35 Taxon: 0.17 Complement: 0.30 | MAXEIG = 0.228 MAMBAC = 0.261 L-MODE = 0.279 | dimensional | |
| Full sample | 8.1% / | Range = 0.78–1.54 | Average: 0.39 Taxon: 0.26 Complement: 0.34 | MAXEIG = 0.221 MAMBAC = 0.341 L-MODE = 0.333 | dimensional | |
| Male Sample | 10.9% / | Range = 0.63–1.42 | Average: 0.37 Taxon: 0.28 Complement: 0.32 | MAXEIG = 0.268 MAMBAC = 0.360 L-MODE = 0.348 | dimensional | |
| Female Sample | 5.4% / | Range = 1.02–1.58 | Average: 0.39 Taxon: 0.25 Complement: 0.35 | MAXEIG = 0.206 MAMBAC = 0.496 L-MODE = 0.373 | dimensional | |
| Full sample | 8.1% / | Range = 0.86–1.54 | Average: 0.39 Taxon: 0.25 Complement: 0.34 | MAXEIG = 0.171 MAMBAC = 0.301 L-MODE = 0.399 | dimensional | |
| Male Sample | 10.9% / | Range = 0.76–1.42 | Average: 0.38 Taxon: 0.28 Complement: 0.32 | MAXEIG = 0.261 MAMBAC = 0.355 L-MODE = 0.380 | dimensional | |
| Female Sample | 5.4% / | Range = 1.07–1.58 | Average: 0.39 Taxon: 0.22 Complement: 0.35 | MAXEIG = 0.201 MAMBAC = 0.421 L-MODE = 0.365 | dimensional |
Please note that in practice a final conclusion has to be drawn based on the mean CCFI profile instead of relying only on single CCFI profile values (i.e., MAXEIG, MAMBAC, or L-MODE; see Ruscio et al., 2018). Since the individual taxometric techniques provide independent evidence for the latent structure (see Ruscio et al., 2010), a certain variability of single CCFI profile values is to be expected
d Cohen’s, CCFI profile comparison curve fit index based on the CCFI profile method, MAXEIG maximum eigenvalue, MAMBAC mean above minus below a cut, L-MODE latent-mode factor analysis
Fig. 1Results of the CCFI-profile analyses based on 3-indicator-sets (Essau et al., 2006↑ and Kimonis et al., 2015↓) for the total sample (left), male sample (middle), and female sample (right)
Fig. 2Results of the CCFI-profile analyses based on 4-indicator-sets (APSD↑and Kliem et al., 2020↓) for the total sample (right), male sample (middle), and female sample (left)