Data-Driven Phenotypic Categorization for Neurobiological Analyses: Beyond DSM-5 Labels

Nicholas T. Van Dam, David O'Connor, Enitan T. Marcelle, Erica J. Ho, R. Cameron Craddock, Russell H. Tobe, Vilma Gabbay, James J. Hudziak, F. Xavier Castellanos, Bennett L. Leventhal, Michael P. Milham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Data-driven approaches can capture behavioral and biological variation currently unaccounted for by contemporary diagnostic categories, thereby enhancing the ability of neurobiological studies to characterize brain-behavior relationships. Methods A community-ascertained sample of individuals (N = 347, 18–59 years of age) completed a battery of behavioral measures, psychiatric assessment, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in a cross-sectional design. Bootstrap-based exploratory factor analysis was applied to 49 phenotypic subscales from 10 measures. Hybrid hierarchical clustering was applied to resultant factor scores to identify nested groups. Adjacent groups were compared via independent samples t tests and chi-square tests of factor scores, syndrome scores, and psychiatric prevalence. Multivariate distance matrix regression examined functional connectome differences between adjacent groups. Results Reduction yielded six factors, which explained 77.8% and 65.4% of the variance in exploratory and constrained exploratory models, respectively. Hybrid hierarchical clustering of these six factors identified two, four, and eight nested groups (i.e., phenotypic communities). At the highest clustering level, the algorithm differentiated functionally adaptive and maladaptive groups. At the middle clustering level, groups were separated by problem type (maladaptive groups; internalizing vs. externalizing problems) and behavioral type (adaptive groups; sensation-seeking vs. extraverted/emotionally stable). Unique phenotypic profiles were also evident at the lowest clustering level. Group comparisons exhibited significant differences in intrinsic functional connectivity at the highest clustering level in somatomotor, thalamic, basal ganglia, and limbic networks. Conclusions Data-driven approaches for identifying homogenous subgroups, spanning typical function to dysfunction, not only yielded clinically meaningful groups, but also captured behavioral and neurobiological variation among healthy individuals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)484-494
Number of pages11
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume81
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hierarchical clustering
  • Multivariate distance matrix regression
  • Phenotypes
  • Psychopathology
  • RDoC
  • Resting state fMRI

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biological Psychiatry

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