Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD

Anna-Rosa Cecilie Mora-Jensen; Christine Lykke Thoustrup; Eli R Lebowitz; Julie Hagstrøm; Linea Pretzmann; Nicoline Løcke Jepsen Korsbjerg; Emilie Damløv Thorsen; Valdemar Funch Uhre; Sofie Heidenheim Christensen; Camilla Uhre; Melanie Ritter; Kerstin J Plessen; Anne Katrine Pagsberg; Line Katrine Harder Clemmensen; Nicole Nadine Lønfeldt

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996

Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD

Anna-Rosa Cecilie Mora-Jensen, Christine Lykke Thoustrup, Eli R Lebowitz, Julie Hagstrøm, Linea Pretzmann, Nicoline Løcke Jepsen Korsbjerg, Emilie Damløv Thorsen, Valdemar Funch Uhre, Sofie Heidenheim Christensen, Camilla Uhre, Melanie Ritter, Kerstin J Plessen, Anne Katrine Pagsberg, Line Katrine Harder Clemmensen, Nicole Nadine Lønfeldt

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Parent-child interactive processes are important factors in pediatric OCD. Understanding biological mechanisms of parent-child interactive behaviors could help improve treatment of pediatric OCD. Oxytocin has been suggested as a biological mechanism in parent-child interactions. However, no studies in pediatric OCD exist. We used machine learning to discover latent patterns in parent-child interactive behaviors and explored associations with oxytocin in children with and without OCD.

METHODS: We used parent and child salivary oxytocin levels measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and investigator-rated parent-child behaviors during a frustration task. Children with or without OCD and their parents - 107 mother-child and 62 father-child pairs were included. We used two machine learning techniques, principal component analysis and archetypal analysis, to generate data-driven, theory-agnostic behavioral variables, and regression to estimate their associations with oxytocin.

RESULTS: Principal component and archetype analyses identified behavioral patterns describing the mother-child and father-child interactions. We found a positive association between child and mother oxytocin and the interaction patterns "overinvolved interaction" and "emotional interaction" and a negative association with "distant interaction". Additionally, mother oxytocin was positively associated with "supportive interaction" and "varied-coping interaction", and negatively associated with "conflictual interaction" and "negative-low support interaction". Father oxytocin was associated with "supportive interactions" only in the presence of child OCD.

CONCLUSION: Child and mother oxytocin appear related with mother-child interactive patterns. Fathers' oxytocin was related with interaction patterns only in children with OCD. Our exploratory findings can be used to generate hypothesis for future research regarding the relationship between oxytocin and maladaptive family engagement in OCD and differences between mothers and fathers' behaviors when the child has OCD.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	102996
Tidsskrift	Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Vol/bind	111
Sider (fra-til)	102996
ISSN	0887-6185
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996
Status	Udgivet - apr. 2025

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996

Andre filer og links

Link to publication in Scopus

Citationsformater

Mora-Jensen, A.-R. C., Thoustrup, C. L., Lebowitz, E. R., Hagstrøm, J., Pretzmann, L., Korsbjerg, N. L. J., Thorsen, E. D., Uhre, V. F., Christensen, S. H., Uhre, C., Ritter, M., Plessen, K. J., Pagsberg, A. K., Clemmensen, L. K. H., & Lønfeldt, N. N. (2025). Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 111, 102996. Artikel 102996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996

Mora-Jensen, A-RC , Thoustrup, CL, Lebowitz, ER, Hagstrøm, J , Pretzmann, L , Korsbjerg, NLJ, Thorsen, ED, Uhre, VF , Christensen, SH, Uhre, C, Ritter, M , Plessen, KJ , Pagsberg, AK, Clemmensen, LKH & Lønfeldt, NN 2025, 'Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD', Journal of Anxiety Disorders, bind 111, 102996, s. 102996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996

@article{aef253e4dd29438cb6c21c4795fcba07,

title = "Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Parent-child interactive processes are important factors in pediatric OCD. Understanding biological mechanisms of parent-child interactive behaviors could help improve treatment of pediatric OCD. Oxytocin has been suggested as a biological mechanism in parent-child interactions. However, no studies in pediatric OCD exist. We used machine learning to discover latent patterns in parent-child interactive behaviors and explored associations with oxytocin in children with and without OCD.METHODS: We used parent and child salivary oxytocin levels measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and investigator-rated parent-child behaviors during a frustration task. Children with or without OCD and their parents - 107 mother-child and 62 father-child pairs were included. We used two machine learning techniques, principal component analysis and archetypal analysis, to generate data-driven, theory-agnostic behavioral variables, and regression to estimate their associations with oxytocin.RESULTS: Principal component and archetype analyses identified behavioral patterns describing the mother-child and father-child interactions. We found a positive association between child and mother oxytocin and the interaction patterns {"}overinvolved interaction{"} and {"}emotional interaction{"} and a negative association with {"}distant interaction{"}. Additionally, mother oxytocin was positively associated with {"}supportive interaction{"} and {"}varied-coping interaction{"}, and negatively associated with {"}conflictual interaction{"} and {"}negative-low support interaction{"}. Father oxytocin was associated with {"}supportive interactions{"} only in the presence of child OCD.CONCLUSION: Child and mother oxytocin appear related with mother-child interactive patterns. Fathers' oxytocin was related with interaction patterns only in children with OCD. Our exploratory findings can be used to generate hypothesis for future research regarding the relationship between oxytocin and maladaptive family engagement in OCD and differences between mothers and fathers' behaviors when the child has OCD.",

keywords = "Child Health, Machine learning, Obsessive compulsive disorder, Oxytocin, Parent-child interaction",

author = "Mora-Jensen, {Anna-Rosa Cecilie} and Thoustrup, {Christine Lykke} and Lebowitz, {Eli R} and Julie Hagstr{\o}m and Linea Pretzmann and Korsbjerg, {Nicoline L{\o}cke Jepsen} and Thorsen, {Emilie Daml{\o}v} and Uhre, {Valdemar Funch} and Christensen, {Sofie Heidenheim} and Camilla Uhre and Melanie Ritter and Plessen, {Kerstin J} and Pagsberg, {Anne Katrine} and Clemmensen, {Line Katrine Harder} and L{\o}nfeldt, {Nicole Nadine}",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996",

language = "English",

volume = "111",

pages = "102996",

journal = "Journal of Anxiety Disorders",

issn = "0887-6185",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD

AU - Mora-Jensen, Anna-Rosa Cecilie

AU - Thoustrup, Christine Lykke

AU - Lebowitz, Eli R

AU - Hagstrøm, Julie

AU - Pretzmann, Linea

AU - Korsbjerg, Nicoline Løcke Jepsen

AU - Thorsen, Emilie Damløv

AU - Uhre, Valdemar Funch

AU - Christensen, Sofie Heidenheim

AU - Uhre, Camilla

AU - Ritter, Melanie

AU - Plessen, Kerstin J

AU - Pagsberg, Anne Katrine

AU - Clemmensen, Line Katrine Harder

AU - Lønfeldt, Nicole Nadine

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: Parent-child interactive processes are important factors in pediatric OCD. Understanding biological mechanisms of parent-child interactive behaviors could help improve treatment of pediatric OCD. Oxytocin has been suggested as a biological mechanism in parent-child interactions. However, no studies in pediatric OCD exist. We used machine learning to discover latent patterns in parent-child interactive behaviors and explored associations with oxytocin in children with and without OCD.METHODS: We used parent and child salivary oxytocin levels measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and investigator-rated parent-child behaviors during a frustration task. Children with or without OCD and their parents - 107 mother-child and 62 father-child pairs were included. We used two machine learning techniques, principal component analysis and archetypal analysis, to generate data-driven, theory-agnostic behavioral variables, and regression to estimate their associations with oxytocin.RESULTS: Principal component and archetype analyses identified behavioral patterns describing the mother-child and father-child interactions. We found a positive association between child and mother oxytocin and the interaction patterns "overinvolved interaction" and "emotional interaction" and a negative association with "distant interaction". Additionally, mother oxytocin was positively associated with "supportive interaction" and "varied-coping interaction", and negatively associated with "conflictual interaction" and "negative-low support interaction". Father oxytocin was associated with "supportive interactions" only in the presence of child OCD.CONCLUSION: Child and mother oxytocin appear related with mother-child interactive patterns. Fathers' oxytocin was related with interaction patterns only in children with OCD. Our exploratory findings can be used to generate hypothesis for future research regarding the relationship between oxytocin and maladaptive family engagement in OCD and differences between mothers and fathers' behaviors when the child has OCD.

AB - BACKGROUND: Parent-child interactive processes are important factors in pediatric OCD. Understanding biological mechanisms of parent-child interactive behaviors could help improve treatment of pediatric OCD. Oxytocin has been suggested as a biological mechanism in parent-child interactions. However, no studies in pediatric OCD exist. We used machine learning to discover latent patterns in parent-child interactive behaviors and explored associations with oxytocin in children with and without OCD.METHODS: We used parent and child salivary oxytocin levels measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and investigator-rated parent-child behaviors during a frustration task. Children with or without OCD and their parents - 107 mother-child and 62 father-child pairs were included. We used two machine learning techniques, principal component analysis and archetypal analysis, to generate data-driven, theory-agnostic behavioral variables, and regression to estimate their associations with oxytocin.RESULTS: Principal component and archetype analyses identified behavioral patterns describing the mother-child and father-child interactions. We found a positive association between child and mother oxytocin and the interaction patterns "overinvolved interaction" and "emotional interaction" and a negative association with "distant interaction". Additionally, mother oxytocin was positively associated with "supportive interaction" and "varied-coping interaction", and negatively associated with "conflictual interaction" and "negative-low support interaction". Father oxytocin was associated with "supportive interactions" only in the presence of child OCD.CONCLUSION: Child and mother oxytocin appear related with mother-child interactive patterns. Fathers' oxytocin was related with interaction patterns only in children with OCD. Our exploratory findings can be used to generate hypothesis for future research regarding the relationship between oxytocin and maladaptive family engagement in OCD and differences between mothers and fathers' behaviors when the child has OCD.

KW - Child Health

KW - Machine learning

KW - Obsessive compulsive disorder

KW - Oxytocin

KW - Parent-child interaction

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000322908&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996

DO - 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.102996

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 40117840

SN - 0887-6185

VL - 111

SP - 102996

JO - Journal of Anxiety Disorders

JF - Journal of Anxiety Disorders

M1 - 102996

ER -

Computationally derived parent-child interaction patterns and oxytocin in children with and without OCD

Abstract

Adgang til dokumentet

Andre filer og links

Fingeraftryk

Citationsformater