Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review

Aderonke Oyetunji; Ann Genovese; Trevena Moore

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

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Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review

Aderonke Oyetunji

, Ann Genovese, Trevena Moore

Published in American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Received: 31 March 2025 Accepted: 11 April 2025 Published: 29 April 2025

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Abstract

Irritability can be a prominent characteristic of various psychopathologies, including childhood psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Genetic, environmental, and prenatal factors influence the development and progression of childhood irritability. This review aims to highlight the biological and behavioral pathways associated with childhood irritability, examine the relationship between irritability and childhood psychopathology, identify the existing gap in the literature, review these connections, and provide guidance for future research. Articles published on PubMed and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2023 were reviewed using a combination of search terms such as "childhood irritability,” “maternal stress,” and “prenatal stress.” The literature search yielded roughly 2,800 articles using the predefined search terms, of which 65 were deemed relevant to this scoping review. The articles reviewed identified a link between prenatal stress, childhood irritability, and the development of adult psychopathology. Pathological irritability and its emerging connection to maternal stress pose a risk factor for developing neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology in the pediatric population. Much of the current literature addresses the biopathophysiologic pathway linking maternal stress to childhood irritability in offspring. However, no interventional research studies have reported on how to interrupt this pathway or mitigate its progression with predictable outcomes. Therefore, identifying a critical period during childhood or adolescence when the progression from childhood irritability to adult psychopathology can be recognized may reduce the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders or psychopathology in childhood and throughout life.

Published in	American Journal of Pediatrics (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
Page(s)	72-80
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Childhood Irritability, Maternal Stress, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Psychopathology

References

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Cite This Article

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APA Style

Oyetunji, A., Genovese, A., Moore, T. (2025). Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review. American Journal of Pediatrics, 11(2), 72-80. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

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ACS Style

Oyetunji, A.; Genovese, A.; Moore, T. Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review. Am. J. Pediatr. 2025, 11(2), 72-80. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

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AMA Style

Oyetunji A, Genovese A, Moore T. Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review. Am J Pediatr. 2025;11(2):72-80. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17,
  author = {Aderonke Oyetunji and Ann Genovese and Trevena Moore},
  title = {Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review
},
  journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {72-80},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20251102.17},
  abstract = {Irritability can be a prominent characteristic of various psychopathologies, including childhood psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Genetic, environmental, and prenatal factors influence the development and progression of childhood irritability. This review aims to highlight the biological and behavioral pathways associated with childhood irritability, examine the relationship between irritability and childhood psychopathology, identify the existing gap in the literature, review these connections, and provide guidance for future research. Articles published on PubMed and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2023 were reviewed using a combination of search terms such as "childhood irritability,” “maternal stress,” and “prenatal stress.” The literature search yielded roughly 2,800 articles using the predefined search terms, of which 65 were deemed relevant to this scoping review. The articles reviewed identified a link between prenatal stress, childhood irritability, and the development of adult psychopathology. Pathological irritability and its emerging connection to maternal stress pose a risk factor for developing neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology in the pediatric population. Much of the current literature addresses the biopathophysiologic pathway linking maternal stress to childhood irritability in offspring. However, no interventional research studies have reported on how to interrupt this pathway or mitigate its progression with predictable outcomes. Therefore, identifying a critical period during childhood or adolescence when the progression from childhood irritability to adult psychopathology can be recognized may reduce the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders or psychopathology in childhood and throughout life.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review

AU  - Aderonke Oyetunji
AU  - Ann Genovese
AU  - Trevena Moore
Y1  - 2025/04/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
T2  - American Journal of Pediatrics
JF  - American Journal of Pediatrics
JO  - American Journal of Pediatrics
SP  - 72
EP  - 80
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-0909
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
AB  - Irritability can be a prominent characteristic of various psychopathologies, including childhood psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Genetic, environmental, and prenatal factors influence the development and progression of childhood irritability. This review aims to highlight the biological and behavioral pathways associated with childhood irritability, examine the relationship between irritability and childhood psychopathology, identify the existing gap in the literature, review these connections, and provide guidance for future research. Articles published on PubMed and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2023 were reviewed using a combination of search terms such as "childhood irritability,” “maternal stress,” and “prenatal stress.” The literature search yielded roughly 2,800 articles using the predefined search terms, of which 65 were deemed relevant to this scoping review. The articles reviewed identified a link between prenatal stress, childhood irritability, and the development of adult psychopathology. Pathological irritability and its emerging connection to maternal stress pose a risk factor for developing neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology in the pediatric population. Much of the current literature addresses the biopathophysiologic pathway linking maternal stress to childhood irritability in offspring. However, no interventional research studies have reported on how to interrupt this pathway or mitigate its progression with predictable outcomes. Therefore, identifying a critical period during childhood or adolescence when the progression from childhood irritability to adult psychopathology can be recognized may reduce the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders or psychopathology in childhood and throughout life.

VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Aderonke Oyetunji

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, United States

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http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6727-4266
Ann Genovese

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, United States

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Trevena Moore

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, United States

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APA Style

Oyetunji, A., Genovese, A., Moore, T. (2025). Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review. American Journal of Pediatrics, 11(2), 72-80. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

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ACS Style

Oyetunji, A.; Genovese, A.; Moore, T. Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review. Am. J. Pediatr. 2025, 11(2), 72-80. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

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AMA Style

Oyetunji A, Genovese A, Moore T. Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review. Am J Pediatr. 2025;11(2):72-80. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17,
  author = {Aderonke Oyetunji and Ann Genovese and Trevena Moore},
  title = {Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review
},
  journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {72-80},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20251102.17},
  abstract = {Irritability can be a prominent characteristic of various psychopathologies, including childhood psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Genetic, environmental, and prenatal factors influence the development and progression of childhood irritability. This review aims to highlight the biological and behavioral pathways associated with childhood irritability, examine the relationship between irritability and childhood psychopathology, identify the existing gap in the literature, review these connections, and provide guidance for future research. Articles published on PubMed and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2023 were reviewed using a combination of search terms such as "childhood irritability,” “maternal stress,” and “prenatal stress.” The literature search yielded roughly 2,800 articles using the predefined search terms, of which 65 were deemed relevant to this scoping review. The articles reviewed identified a link between prenatal stress, childhood irritability, and the development of adult psychopathology. Pathological irritability and its emerging connection to maternal stress pose a risk factor for developing neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology in the pediatric population. Much of the current literature addresses the biopathophysiologic pathway linking maternal stress to childhood irritability in offspring. However, no interventional research studies have reported on how to interrupt this pathway or mitigate its progression with predictable outcomes. Therefore, identifying a critical period during childhood or adolescence when the progression from childhood irritability to adult psychopathology can be recognized may reduce the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders or psychopathology in childhood and throughout life.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Understanding Pathways from Childhood Irritability to Psychopathology: A Scoping Study Review

AU  - Aderonke Oyetunji
AU  - Ann Genovese
AU  - Trevena Moore
Y1  - 2025/04/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
T2  - American Journal of Pediatrics
JF  - American Journal of Pediatrics
JO  - American Journal of Pediatrics
SP  - 72
EP  - 80
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-0909
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20251102.17
AB  - Irritability can be a prominent characteristic of various psychopathologies, including childhood psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Genetic, environmental, and prenatal factors influence the development and progression of childhood irritability. This review aims to highlight the biological and behavioral pathways associated with childhood irritability, examine the relationship between irritability and childhood psychopathology, identify the existing gap in the literature, review these connections, and provide guidance for future research. Articles published on PubMed and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2023 were reviewed using a combination of search terms such as "childhood irritability,” “maternal stress,” and “prenatal stress.” The literature search yielded roughly 2,800 articles using the predefined search terms, of which 65 were deemed relevant to this scoping review. The articles reviewed identified a link between prenatal stress, childhood irritability, and the development of adult psychopathology. Pathological irritability and its emerging connection to maternal stress pose a risk factor for developing neurodevelopmental disorders and psychopathology in the pediatric population. Much of the current literature addresses the biopathophysiologic pathway linking maternal stress to childhood irritability in offspring. However, no interventional research studies have reported on how to interrupt this pathway or mitigate its progression with predictable outcomes. Therefore, identifying a critical period during childhood or adolescence when the progression from childhood irritability to adult psychopathology can be recognized may reduce the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders or psychopathology in childhood and throughout life.

VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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