[Dyssocial disorders of adopted adolescents--a clinical, empirical study]

The literature indicates that adopted adolescents with conduct disorders are overrepresented in psychiatric treatment facilities for children and adolescents. In the present study adopted adolescents with conduct disorders and non-adopted adolescents with conduct disorders were compared with regard to biological and psychosocial risk factors known to play a role in the development of such disorders. The groups were carefully matched for age and sex. The results showed that the adopted subjects were a distinct group with a significantly lower number of risk factors for the development of conduct disorders. This suggests that the adoptive situation has a role in pathogenesis.