ADULT OUTCOMES OF CHILD CONDUCT PROBLEMS - A COHORT STUDY

The present study assessed the mental health and criminal records of 6 ,449 males and 6,268 females who presented conduct problems as childre n by examining an unselected birth cohort followed up to age 30. Condu ct problems were defined by teacher ratings of behavior problems and/o r antisocial behavior in the community. There was little overlap in th e children identified by teachers and by the community. These two grou ps of children were at differential risk for adult mental disorder. Se venty-six percent of the males and 30% of females with childhood condu ct problems had either a criminal record, a mental disorder, or both b y age 30. Risk ratios for adult criminality and/or mental disorders, h owever, were greater for females than for males with a history of chil dhood conduct problems. Almost all of the mental disorders were severe substance abuse. Mental disorders and crime were strongly associated among males with a history of childhood conduct problems.