Emotional lability (EL) among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Australasia

Background:Emotional lability (EL) and oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) frequently co-occur with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their relationships and neurobiological underpinnings are still poorly understood. This symposium focuses on the recent research and findings on EL and ADHD in an Australasian research network, spanning Western Australia, New South Wales, Beijing and Hong Kong. Objectives: This symposium explores the following:The factorial validity of EL as a construct distinct and independent from ODD;The neural correlates of EL in relation to resting state connectivity of amygdalasubregions with other brain regions;The potential roles of default mode network regarding EL;The applicability of compassion mind therapy as a treatment option for children with high levels of self-criticism, shame and emotional dysregulation. Methods: A diverse range of methods were used to investigate these objectives.
Findings: The first presentation demonstrates that EL is distinct from ‘mood/affect’ and other subdimensions of ODD by both exploratory and confirmatory analyses. The second presentation reports the deficits in connectivity between top-down networks and amygdalar subregions detected
in ADHD probands with higher levels of EL. The third presentation evaluates the relevance of the default mode network in emotional regulation. The fourth presentation examines the positive treatment effects of compassion mind
therapy in a pilot study of children in Hong Kong. Conclusions: EL is a clinically important presentation among children with ADHD, despite not being captured by the current major taxonomic systems. Studies reported in this symposium advance knowledge on EL with their scientific and clinical implications explored.