Related Experiment Videos
Looking for the disorder in conduct disorder.
E W Lambert1, R G Wahler, A R Andrade
1Center for Mental Health Policy, Vanderbilt University, 1207 18th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA. Warren.Lambert@Vanderbilt.edu
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|March 27, 2001
Summary
Children with conduct disorder (CD) experience multiple co-occurring conditions and significant impairments. These challenges are pervasive and chronic, indicating a global disability rather than a localized issue.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Conduct disorder (CD) in children is often associated with externalizing behaviors.
- Existing research suggests CD may present with additional, unclassified impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of co-occurring diagnoses and impairments in children diagnosed with conduct disorder.
- To compare the severity of problems and impairments in children with CD against other common childhood diagnoses.
Main Methods:
- A 5-year longitudinal study involving 984 treated children aged 5–17 years.
- Analysis of co-occurring diagnoses, problem severity scores, impairment levels, and relapse rates.
Main Results:
- Children with CD averaged 2.2 primary co-occurring diagnoses.
- CD group exhibited the highest problem and impairment scores compared to 11 other diagnoses.
- Children with CD showed worse outcomes across 14 of 15 syndromes, including internalizing issues like depression.
- Higher relapse scores were observed in the CD group 1.5–3 years post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Conduct disorder in children is characterized by pervasive and chronic global disability, not a circumscribed problem.
- The findings suggest a need for broader treatment approaches beyond those specific to CD.
- Co-occurring conditions and global impairments are central to the CD experience in children.