Gender differences in childhood onset conduct disorder

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology
• Forensic Psychology

Background:

• The theory of a single, delayed onset pathway for girls with conduct disorder (CD) is widely discussed.
• Previous research has often focused on male CD presentation, potentially overlooking female developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test predictions regarding the onset pathways of conduct disorder in a high-risk sample of youth.
• To investigate sex differences in the prevalence of childhood onset CD (COCD) versus adolescent onset CD (AOCD).
• To examine risk profiles associated with different CD onset subtypes in males and females.

Main Methods:

• A high-risk, stratified random sample of youth utilizing public services over a 6-month period was assessed.
• Participants were categorized into childhood onset CD (COCD) and adolescent onset CD (AOCD) subtypes.
• Seven potential risk factors were examined to differentiate between CD onset subtypes and sexes.

Main Results:

• Males were significantly more likely to have COCD than females, yet nearly half of females with CD met criteria for COCD.
• Girls with COCD exhibited distinct risk profiles compared to AOCD girls and COCD boys.
• Risk factors differentiated between COCD and AOCD groups similarly in both males and females.

Conclusions:

• Childhood onset CD is not rare among females in public service sectors.
• Distinct risk profiles differentiate COCD and AOCD in girls.
• Identified risk factors for COCD in males are also relevant for females, suggesting overlapping developmental influences.