Neuropsychological function in adolescent girls with conduct disorder

Conduct disorder (CD) in adolescent girls is a significant problem, but few data exist on the neuropsychological function of girls with this disorder. We investigated whether girls with CD have poorer neuropsychological function than girls without any psychiatric disorder, whether these differences remained significant after adjusting for demographics, and whether psychiatric comorbidity, age at onset of CD symptoms, or aggressive CD behaviors were differentially associated with neuropsychological function within the CD group.

Ninety-three girls, ages 15 to 17 years, from the community (52 CD; 41 without any disorder [normal controls]) received a neuropsychological battery examining motor/laterality, general intelligence, language, visuospatial, visual-motor, executive function, and academic achievement domains.

Girls with CD had lower general intelligence and poorer performance on visuospatial, executive function, and academic achievement domains. After adjusting for demographic factors, scores in the CD group were worse for general intelligence and in the visuospatial and academic achievement domains. Comorbid substance use disorder was negatively correlated with motor/laterality; no other intra-CD group comparisons were statistically significant.

Girls with CD had deficits in several domains of neuropsychological function. Possible explanations for the findings and clinical implications are discussed.