Multivariate Data Analysis Identifies Natural Clusters of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TAND)

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-835934/v1

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Research Article

Multivariate Data Analysis Identifies Natural Clusters of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TAND)

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-835934/v1

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Background

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a multi-system genetic disorder, is associated with a wide range of TSC-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TAND). Individuals have apparently unique TAND profiles, challenging diagnosis, psycho-education, and intervention planning. We proposed that identification of natural TAND clusters could lead to personalized identification and treatment of TAND. Two small-scale studies showed cluster and factor analysis could identify clinically meaningful natural TAND clusters. Here we set out to identify definitive natural TAND clusters in a large, international dataset.

Method

Cross-sectional, anonymized TAND Checklist data of 453 individuals with TSC were collected from six international sites. Data-driven methods were used to identify natural TAND clusters. Mean squared contingency coefficients were calculated to produce a correlation matrix, and various cluster analyses and exploratory factor analysis were examined. Statistical robustness of clusters was evaluated with 1000-fold bootstrapping, and internal consistency calculated with Cronbach’s alpha.

Results

Ward’s method rendered seven natural TAND clusters with good robustness on bootstrapping. Cluster analysis showed significant convergence with an exploratory factor analysis solution, and, with the exception of one cluster, internal consistency of the emerging clusters was good to excellent. Clusters showed good clinical face validity.

Conclusions

Our findings identified a data-driven set of natural TAND clusters from within highly variable TAND Checklist data. The seven natural TAND clusters could be used to train families and professionals and to develop tailored approaches to identification and treatment of TAND. Natural TAND clusters may also have differential aetiological underpinnings and responses to molecular and other treatments.

Internal Medicine

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

TAND

natural TAND clusters

neuropsychiatric

autism spectrum disorder

cluster analysis

factor analysis

precision medicine

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a multi-system genetic disorder associated with a range of physical manifestations¹. The main burden of the disorder is, however, linked to the neurological and neuropsychiatric features of TSC². TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND) is seen in ~ 90% of individuals across the lifespan³. Previous studies suggested that each individual with TSC appears to present with their own unique profile or ‘TAND signature’⁴. The complexity and perceived uniqueness of TAND profiles is, however, a major barrier to screening, diagnostic work-up, intervention planning, and psycho-education. Thus, identification of natural TAND clusters - predictable groupings of specific neuropsychiatric characteristics - may be a powerful strategy to reduce the perceived overwhelming heterogeneity of individual TAND profiles and resulting ‘treatment paralysis’, and could lead to the development of a personalized approach to management and treatment of individuals with TSC in clinical settings.

Machine-based data reduction methods have been used in humans to reduce the multi-dimensionality of behavioural characteristics to identify previously unrecognized clusters of behaviours. For example, in a study of the behavioural phenotype of humans with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, categorical principal component analysis (PCA) was used as a data reduction tool and to describe relationships between a large number of behavioural variables⁵. This methodology allowed for new insights into the relationships between physical and behavioural characteristics and into genotype-phenotype correlations. In a feasibility study, we examined the viability of using multivariate data analysis techniques as a novel strategy in TSC to identify natural TAND clusters. Cluster analysis of 29 variables in 56 individuals with TSC rendered six natural TAND clusters with good face validity and significant convergence with a 6-factor exploratory factor analysis solution⁶. The natural TAND clusters identified included a ‘Scholastic’ cluster, an ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder-like’ cluster, a ‘Dysregulated behaviour’ cluster, a ‘Neuropsychological’ cluster, a ‘Hyperactive/Impulsive’ cluster, and a ‘Mixed/Mood’ cluster. The feasibility study, however, had a small sample from only two centres (South Africa and Australia) and, whilst informative from a methodological perspective, clearly required replication and expansion. Next, we therefore used the same methodology in a new sample of n = 85 individuals with TSC from 7 European countries⁷. The study also found six natural TAND clusters and replicated the majority of the earlier findings. Even though there is no consensus on sample size for cluster analysis research, we acknowledged the need for significantly larger sample size, and for evaluation of the statistical robustness and internal consistency of TAND clusters.

In this study, we used cluster and factor analysis methods in a large international sample, in search of definitive natural TAND clusters. In addition, we evaluated the robustness and internal consistency of identified natural TAND clusters.

Subjects

Participants for this study (n = 453) were recruited from five expert TSC centres: Cincinnati, USA (365 participants), Boston, USA (25 participants), Brussels, Belgium (25 participants), Dallas, USA (14 participants) and Leuven, Belgium (9 participants). An additional 16 participants were recruited through Tuberous Sclerosis International (TSCi). To be eligible, participants had to meet clinical criteria for TSC¹. Anonymized data deliberately included participants with a wide age and ability range. All procedures contributing to this work complied with the ethical standards of the relevant national and international committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008. The protocol was peer-reviewed in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cape Town and submitted for ethical approval by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics Ref 340/2015). Additional study sites obtained ethical approval or waivers from their respective HREC/IRB bodies.

Procedures

The TAND Checklist was administered to parents and caregivers of individuals with TSC by the resident TSC coordinator and/or treating physician. The TAND Checklist is a short pen-and-paper checklist that captures the high frequency neuropsychiatric difficulties in TSC. It was developed in partnership with family and professional stakeholders in the TSC community. It typically takes about 10–20 minutes to complete. For details about TAND and the TAND Checklist, including a downloadable version of the Checklist, please see de Vries et al,. (2015)³.

Data Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed on anonymized TAND Checklist data using a series of steps as outlined below and in Fig. 1.

STEP 1. Select TAND Checklist variables

The following sections of the TAND Checklist were included in the analysis: Sect. 3, behavioural challenges (19 questions/variables); Sect. 5, academic skills (4 variables); and Sect. 7, neuropsychological skills (6 variables). This equated to 29 dichotomous TAND variables.

STEP 2. Compute Correlation Matrix

Mean squared contingency coefficient⁸ was used to compute a correlation matrix for the 29 binary variables selected from the TAND Checklist. Where missing values were present, these were omitted pairwise in correlation computations.

STEP 3. Cluster Analysis

Several clustering solutions were compared. Hierarchical clustering methods provide a clustering tree visually representing the merging of TAND variables and suggesting a suitable number of clusters. Hierarchical clustering methods including complete linkage, average linkage, Ward’s method and McQuitty’s method were applied with the R functions hclust() in base R⁹. Although hierarchical clustering has often been used with great success, the algorithm is fairly naïve and some more recent methods in the R package cluster¹⁰ were therefore also investigated. The FANNY (fuzzy clustering) method applied to the data allocates a probability for belonging to each cluster rather than simply allocating each item to a single cluster. DIANA is a divisive analysis hierarchical clustering method, whereas the other hierarchical methods are all agglomerative.

STEP 4. Bootstrapping

Following cluster analysis, 1000-fold bootstrapping¹¹ was applied to assess the statistical robustness of the clustering solution. Based on the bootstrap sample of patients, a squared contingency coefficient correlation matrix was computed, and hierarchical cluster analysis with Ward’s method was performed. The number of clusters was fixed at 7 and a bootstrap replicate clustering solution was obtained. In order to assess the robustness or stability of the original observed clustering solution, the number of times each pair of variables clustered together was calculated.

STEP 5. Exploratory Factor Analysis

After suitable clustering solutions were obtained and bootstrapping applied, exploratory factor analysis was employed with the fa() R function in the package psych¹². The factor analysis was also performed on the mean squared contingency coefficient correlation matrix. All the different options of factor extraction and rotation available in the fa() function were investigated. These combinations were applied to solutions with between four and seven factors. In order to find the factor solution that best matched the cluster analysis solution, the Tucker index of factor congruence¹³ was used. Optimal rotations were achieved with Orthogonal Procrustes Analysis¹⁴ and the overall congruence summarised by the sum of the diagonal values. For cases other than 6 factors, the congruence matrix was padded with zeros to obtain a square matrix before rotation. Full algebraic details are available in the supplemental data of Leclezio, Gardner-Lubbe & de Vries⁶.

STEP 6. Test Internal Consistency

Reliability analysis¹⁵ was used to test the internal consistency of the TAND variables both the clusters identified and factors generated and in the final proposal for clusters.

STEP 7. Compare Cluster Analysis findings with Exploratory Factor Analysis Results

Here we compared the data-driven cluster solutions with the exploratory factor analysis in order to examine similarities and differences of the two approaches.

Step 8. Description of final natural clusters

Finally, we integrated all results to generate a final set of natural TAND clusters.

Cluster Analysis

Hierarchical clustering with Ward’s method produced a seven-cluster solution. A dendrogram of the Ward cluster analysis shows detail of the natural clustering of the TAND variables examined (Fig. 2).

The first cluster included difficulties with mathematics, spelling, writing, and reading suggesting a natural ‘Scholastic’ cluster. The second cluster included memory difficulties, getting disorientated, attention difficulties at both a behavioural and neuropsychological level, difficulty with visuo-spatial tasks, dual-task difficulties, and executive skills difficulties. These suggested a natural ‘Neuropsychological’ cluster. The third cluster included extreme shyness, depressed mood, anxiety, and mood swings, suggesting a natural ‘Mood/Anxiety’ cluster. The fourth cluster included inflexibility, unusual language (repeating words or phrases over and over again), repetitive behaviours, poor eye contact, and peer difficulties, suggesting an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like cluster. The fifth cluster included aggressive outbursts, temper tantrums, self-injury, and absent or delayed onset of language. The first three items supported a natural ‘Dysregulated behaviour’ cluster, but the delayed language item did not overtly seem to fit the natural cluster. The sixth cluster contained impulsivity, overactivity, and restlessness, suggesting a natural ‘Overactive/Impulsive’ cluster. The seventh cluster contained two biological items - difficulties with eating and sleep-related problems. We refer to this as the ‘Eat/Sleep’ cluster.

Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping results are shown in Fig. 3. Black boxes are shown around the clusters as shown in the dendrogram (see Fig. 2). Red boxes are shown around other items that showed relationships between variables outside clusters. The Scholastic cluster was very stable with all four items clustering together 96% of the time. Three neuropsychological items and absent/delayed language showed association with the scholastic cluster (Visuo-spatial skills, 32–47%; Dual-tasking, 21–27%; Executive skills, 19–21%; Absent/Delayed language, 15–28%). In the Neuropsychological cluster, items showed bootstrap values ranging from 100% (behavioural and neuropsychological attention difficulties; dual-tasking and executive skills), to 76% (Memory and Disorientation), while other pairings were less stable (Behavioural and neuropsychological attention deficits in relation to visuo-spatial deficits, 8–17%). Items in the Overactive/Impulsive cluster clustered together 94% (overactive, restless), 45% (impulsivity, overactive) and 37% of the time (impulsivity, restlessness). In the Mood/Anxiety cluster extreme shyness showed bootstrapping values between 15% and 32%, depressed mood 32–70%, anxiety 27–70%, and mood swings 15–58%. Depressed mood also associated with aggression and temper tantrums 59% and 30% of the time, respectively. The fifth cluster, Dysregulated behaviour, showed that temper tantrums and aggressive outbursts clustered together 100% of the time and that self-injury and absent/delayed language clustered together 60% of the time. Self-injury clustered with aggression and temper tantrums 19–25% of the time, but absent/delayed language showed very low bootstrapping values (3–5%). Instead, absent/delayed language showed higher bootstrapping values with items in other clusters, particularly the scholastic (15–28%) and ASD-like cluster (6–40%). The ASD-like cluster items ranged between 12% and 89% of which unusual language and repetitive behavior showed the highest bootstrapping values (89%). The two items of the Eat/Sleep cluster clustered together 26% of the time.

Factor Analysis

Factor loadings (cut-off > 0.35) from exploratory factor analysis are shown in Fig. 4. The factor analysis solution that most closely matched Ward’s hierarchical cluster analysis was the principal components factor extraction method with clustering method rotation. Results supported a seven-factor solution very similar to the cluster solution outlined above. Three items cross-loaded onto more than one factor. These were self-injurious behavior (ASD-like factor and Eat/Sleep factor), sleeping difficulties (Eat/Sleep factor and Mood/Anxiety factor), and disorientation (ASD-like factor and the Neuropsychological factor).

Internal Consistency

Five clusters had Cronbach alpha values ≥ 0.7 indicating good to excellent internal consistency: Scholastic (0.97), Neuropsychological (0.87), ASD-like (0.76), Dysregulated behaviour (0.74), and Overactive/Impulsive (0.70). The remaining 2 clusters had lower alpha values: Mood/Anxiety (0.69) and Eat/Sleep (0.48). Similarly, in the factor analysis solutions 6 factors showed good to excellent internal consistency: Scholastic (0.97), Neuropsychological (0.86), ASD-like (0.79), Dysregulated behaviour (0.75), Mood/Anxiety (0.74) and Overactive/Impulsive (0.70). Only the Eat/Sleep factor scored < 0.7 with an alpha = 0.54, suggesting poor internal consistency.

Comparison of cluster analysis and factor analysis findings

Factor analysis confirmed a profile similar to cluster analysis, but with some slight variance between clusters and factors (Fig. 5). Cluster and factor analysis showed the ‘Overactive/Impulsive’ and ‘Scholastic’ clusters to be clearly distinct, the ‘Mood/Anxiety’ and ‘Neuropsychological’ clusters to be fairly distinct, while the other three clusters/factors showed more evidence of cross-loading between items in different clusters/factors.

Integrated findings of natural TAND clusters

Expert review of all findings identified one problematic item for cluster placement (absent/delayed language). The item was linked with self-injury (in the dysregulated behaviour cluster) in hierarchical clustering. However, bootstrapping values for the item were very low inside the cluster (3–5%), but higher with items in the scholastic and ASD-like cluster. After thorough review of all data, the item was moved to the ASD-like cluster. Taking together all results, we propose 7 natural TAND clusters. Table 1 shows the integrated natural clusters, component items and internal consistency for each natural TAND cluster (see Table 1).

Table 1

Seven natural TAND clusters identified in this study. The table shows the clusters with items contained and internal consistency of each cluster
Natural TAND Cluster	No. of Items	TAND Checklist Items	Internal consistency (Alpha)
Scholastic	4	• Reading • Writing • Spelling • Mathematics	0.97*
Neuropsychological	7	• Memory • Disorientation • Attention difficulties (behaviour) • Neuropsychological attention deficits • Visuo-spatial • Dual-tasking • Executive skills	0.87*
Autism Spectrum Disorder-Like	6	• Inflexible • Unusual language • Repetitive behaviour • Poor eye contact • Peer difficulties • Delayed language	0.79*
Dysregulated behaviour	3	• Aggressive outbursts • Temper tantrums • Self-injury	0.73*
Overactive/Impulsive	3	• Overactive • Impulsive • Restless	0.70*
Mood/Anxiety	4	• Mood swings • Anxiety • Depressed mood • Extreme shyness	0.69
Eat/Sleep	2	• Eating difficulties • Sleep difficulties	0.48
* Cronbach alpha ≥ 0.7 indicates good internal consistency

TSC-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TAND) have largely gone undiagnosed and untreated despite affecting 90% of individuals with TSC. This has been attributable to lack of awareness, and lack of expertise in TAND, but most fundamentally, the overwhelming uniqueness of TAND profiles. We proposed that the identification of naturally occurring TAND clusters may improve identification and intervention⁴. In a feasibility study, we showed that a data-driven approach was able to identify natural clusters of TAND⁶, and these findings were replicated in a second study⁷. However, findings required larger-scale replication and extension, particularly to evaluate the robustness of proposed natural TAND clusters. In this study, various cluster analysis techniques and exploratory factor analysis was applied in a large and diverse international sample (n = 453). In addition, bootstrapping and internal consistency analyses were performed.

Results identified seven natural TAND clusters, and bootstrapping showed clusters to be reasonably stable. The scholastic cluster showed the highest robustness in terms of replicability on bootstrapping, while other clusters showed a degree of agreement, suggesting that, with the exception of one item, the identified cluster solution as shown in the dendrogram (Fig. 2) is sufficiently replicable and stable to use in next-step work. The one problematic item in terms of cluster placement (absent/delayed language) was moved from the dysregulated cluster to the ASD-like cluster after expert statistical and clinical review of constructs. Exploratory factor analysis showed that a 7-factor solution mapped well onto the majority of clusters. The Scholastic, Neuropsychological, Overactive/Impulsive, and Eat/Sleep clusters showed good agreement between clusters and factors, but significant cross-loading was observed between the ASD-like, Dysregulated behaviour and Mood/Anxiety clusters. Internal consistency for clusters and factors was good to excellent for 5 of the original 7 clusters generated (except for the Mood/Anxiety and Eat/Sleep clusters) and for 6 of the 7 factors identified (except for the Eat/Sleep factor). In slight contrast to the feasibility studies that suggested 6 natural TAND clusters^6,7, this larger-scale study identified 7 TAND clusters. In this study, the two biological (vegetative) items (sleeping/eating) grouped together, whereas in the feasibility studies they were incorporated into the ASD-like cluster (difficulties with eating) and the Mood/Anxiety cluster (sleep difficulties). The remaining 6 clusters, however, were remarkably similar to the findings from the small-scale feasibility and replication studies^6,7.

Seven Natural TAND Clusters

As outlined in Table 1, integration of the multivariate findings led to our proposal of 7 natural clusters for further validation and potential implementation.

Cluster 1. Scholastic cluster

The first of the seven natural TAND clusters identified is a ‘Scholastic’ cluster indicating difficulties relating to reading, writing, spelling and mathematics. The items in the Scholastic cluster (rendered by both cluster analysis and factor analysis) showed high bootstrapping, very high factor loadings and alpha scores, indicating the close relationship and reliability between items. Findings highlight the need for assessment in this cluster if an individual shows signs of difficulty across any one of the four items. Academic difficulties are a common concern in TSC^2,3,16,17 and not only affect school-aged children, but also have long-term consequences in adulthood.

Cluster 2. Overactive/Impulsive cluster

Both cluster analysis and factor analysis includes overactivity, restlessness, and impulsivity in this cluster. Bootstrapping and internal consistency were high, indicative of the reliability of items and how they group together. This cluster appears clinically meaningful given the high rates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) reported in TSC^16–18. However, it is of interest that the cluster did not include attentional difficulties, which were grouped in the neuropsychological cluster. This may suggest ADHD in TSC to be more typically of the ‘predominantly hyperactive/impulsive subtype’ or could suggest that there may be differential pathways to the attentional and hyperactive/impulsive deficits seen in TSC.

Cluster 3. Neuropsychological cluster

This cluster includes memory deficits, disorientation, neuropsychological attention deficits as well as attention deficits in daily life, dual task deficits, executive deficits, and visuo-spatial deficits. Whilst visuo-spatial deficits were grouped within the ASD factor, cluster analysis grouped visuo-spatial deficits with the other neuropsychological skills. Bootstrapping supported the clustering with neuropsychological skills but confirmed a frequent co-occurrence with the scholastic cluster. Based on the existing TSC literature, the cluster maps very well onto the high rates of a range of neuropsychological attentional, executive, and memory deficits reported^{16,17,19−21}.

Cluster 4. Mood/Anxiety cluster

Four items are included in this cluster – anxiety, depressed mood, mood swings and extreme shyness. We observed that factor analysis included inflexibility and sleep-related problems with the four other items. However, bootstrapping classified these two items in the mood/anxiety cluster only 12–15% (sleep) and 19% − 26% (inflexibility) of the time. Given the cluster analysis and bootstrapping observed, inflexibility was therefore retained with ASD-like features, and ‘sleep difficulties’ with the Eat/Sleep cluster. The four mood/anxiety items (mood swings, anxiety, depressed mood, extreme shyness) are commonly seen in children and adults with TSC^{16–18, 17,22}.

Cluster 5. Dysregulated behaviour cluster

The dysregulated behaviour cluster includes aggressive outbursts, temper tantrums and self-injurious behaviour. Cluster analysis also included absent/delayed language in the cluster, but, as outlined earlier, bootstrapping did not support the robustness of this item in the cluster. One of the biggest concerns to families is the high rate of ‘behaviors that challenge’ seen in TSC specifically with regards to aggression and temper tantrums, self-injury and damage to property^{16–18, 23,24}. It was therefore of interest that a specific and distinct cluster of dysregulated behaviours was identified here.

Cluster 6. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-like cluster

This natural TAND cluster includes six items - inflexibility, unusual language, repetitive behaviour, poor eye contact, peer difficulty and delayed/absent language. As outlined above, initial cluster analysis did not include absent/delayed language in the ASD-like cluster, but bootstrapping and factor analysis suggested these characteristics to be more likely to co-occur with ASD-like rather than with other TAND behaviours. TSC is one of the medical conditions most strongly associated with ASD and the symptoms of ASD in TSC seems to map very well with symptoms observed in non-syndromic ASD^{2,3, 16–18,25,26}. It was therefore of interest to see the natural emergence of an ASD-like cluster of behaviours from a clinical perspective.

Cluster 7. Eat/Sleep cluster

This cluster includes eating and sleeping difficulties. Given that sleeping and eating are fundamental biological/vegetative functions it was not surprising to see them cluster together. High rates of sleep problems have been reported in individuals with TSC²⁷, and deficits in circadian rhythm are now described in animal models of this disorder²⁸. This cluster was not identified in the feasibility study, but this much larger sample suggested that these concerns group together. Importantly, both sleep and eating difficulties cross-load with other clusters, underlining the fact that they often co-occur with other neuropsychiatric difficulties. However, the fact that they cluster independently suggests the need to investigate these in their own right, not only in the context of other so-called co-morbid conditions.

Study Limitations

Firstly, anonymized TAND Checklist data were used here to identify potential natural TAND clusters, and no other sources of information that may be relevant in cluster analysis or factor analysis, such as clinical evaluations or neuropsychological assessments, were included. We acknowledge that it is therefore theoretically possible that other clusters may be identified using different kinds of multi-level data. However, we specifically wanted to use the TAND Checklist for this purpose, given that it is a simple, yet systematic and freely available tool that could easily be implemented in real-life settings around the globe. Pilot validation of the TAND Checklist²⁹ indicated that the TAND Checklist was a valid tool in extrapolating multi-level neuropsychiatric manifestations in TSC. It would be important to include external validation of the natural TAND cluster findings based on TAND Checklist data in relation to expert clinical data as a logical next step. Secondly, we acknowledge that all the data were ‘lifetime’ data. We have therefore to date not examined the developmental pattern of natural TAND clusters, which may have a more dynamic nature than captured here. However, our findings should allow longitudinal examination of natural TAND clusters in future large-scale studies. This should also include examination of the association between age, gender, intellectual ability and other potential correlates of TAND. Thirdly, the current TAND Checklist collects data in a dichotomous fashion. The study was therefore not able to explore the subtleties of severity that may be important to examine in natural TAND clusters in future. Development of a quantified version of the TAND Checklist is currently underway.

Based on the largest collection of TAND Checklist data to date, our analyses generated seven natural TAND clusters that were statistically robust and had good clinical face validity. We therefore propose the identification of these clusters to be a useful first step as a guide to further assessment and treatment options in clinical practice. Next steps could include the development of targeted teaching and training of professionals and individuals with TSC about the seven natural TAND clusters, and identification of appropriate evidence-based resources and interventions that map onto these clusters. At a scientific level, we propose that identification of these naturally-occurring clustering of the neuropsychiatric phenotype of TSC may be the first step towards a more dimensional, data-driven approach to the study of the etiology and treatments (molecular and otherwise) ^2,17,30 of individuals with TSC and related neurodevelopmental disorders.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

All procedures contributing to this work complied with the ethical standards of the relevant national and international committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008. The protocol was peer-reviewed in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cape Town and submitted for ethical approval by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics Ref 340/2015). Additional study sites obtained ethical approval or waivers from their respective HREC/IRB bodies.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Availability of data and materials

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [PJdV] upon reasonable request. Full algebraic details of analysis methodologies are available in the supplemental data of Leclezio, Gardner-Lubbe & de Vries⁶.

Competing interests

This work was supported by a Ph.D. studentship from the Tuberous Sclerosis Association in the United Kingdom (Grant: 2014-S01) (LL), a project grant from the King Baudoin Foundation Fund Dr & Mrs Charles Tournay-Dubisson to PJdV and AJ (2019-J1120010-213544), and by the National Research Foundation and Struengmann Fund, University of Cape Town (to PJdV). The funding bodies played no role in the design of the study in collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in writing the manuscript. PJdV was a study steering committee member of three phase III trials sponsored by Novartis. PJdV and AJ are on the scientific advisory group of the TOSCA international disease registry sponsored by Novartis. MS reports grant support from Novartis, Roche, Biogen, Astellas, Aeovian, Bridgebio, Aucta and Quadrant Biosciences unrelated to this project. He has served on Scientific Advisory Boards for Roche, Celgene, Regenxbio, Alkermes and Takeda.

Funding

The work was funded through a PhD studentship from the Tuberous Sclerosis Association (UK) for the studentship to LL (Grant: 2014-S01), a project grant from the King Baudouin Foundation Fund Dr & Mrs Charles Tournay-Dubisson to PJdV and AJ (2019-J1120010-213544), the National Research Foundation for incentive funding to PJdV, and the Struengmann Fund for endowment of the professorship to PJdV. DK and MS are supported by the Developmental Synaptopathies Consortium (NIH U54-NS092090), which is a part of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). RDCRN is an initiative of the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), NCATS, funded through collaboration between NCATS, National Institute of Mental Health, NINDS and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). None of the funders had any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Authors’ contributions

PdV and LL generated the idea of natural TAND clusters. LL collected and collated data from all participating sites. DK, MS, SS, LdW and AJ provided anonymized data from their TSC clinical research samples. LL and SGL performed the data analysis and visualization of results. PdV, LL, SGL and AJ contributed to interpretation of the data. All authors contributed to writing and reviewing the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the funders for financial support of the project. We thank Molly Valle and colleagues for conducting the TAND Checklist interviews. Finally, the authors thank all study participants.

Note

After completion of preparation of this manuscript, Dr Loren Leclezio sadly passed away. In honour of her work, we have opted to retain her as a co-author.

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Editorial decision: Minor revision
09 Sep, 2021
Review #2 received at journal
08 Sep, 2021
Review #1 received at journal
04 Sep, 2021
Reviews received at journal
25 Aug, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed at journal
25 Aug, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed at journal
24 Aug, 2021
Reviewers invited by journal
24 Aug, 2021
Editor assigned by journal
23 Aug, 2021
Submission checks completed at journal
22 Aug, 2021
Editor invited by journal
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First submitted to journal
21 Aug, 2021

You are reading this latest preprint version

Multivariate Data Analysis Identifies Natural Clusters of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (TAND)

Status:

Version 1

Abstract

Figures

Background

Methods

Subjects

Procedures

Data Analysis

STEP 1. Select TAND Checklist variables

STEP 2. Compute Correlation Matrix

STEP 3. Cluster Analysis

STEP 4. Bootstrapping

STEP 5. Exploratory Factor Analysis

STEP 6. Test Internal Consistency

STEP 7. Compare Cluster Analysis findings with Exploratory Factor Analysis Results

Step 8. Description of final natural clusters

Results

Cluster Analysis

Bootstrapping

Factor Analysis

Internal Consistency

Comparison of cluster analysis and factor analysis findings

Integrated findings of natural TAND clusters

Discussion

Conclusions

Declarations

References

Status:

Version 1