BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS AT AGE 3 YEARS PREDICT ADULT PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS - LONGITUDINAL EVIDENCE FROM A BIRTH COHORT

Background: This study provides, to our knowledge, the first empirical test of whether behavioral differences among children in the first 3 years of life are linked to specific adult psychiatric disorders: anxi ety and mood disorders, antisocial personality disorder, recidivistic and violent crime, alcoholism, and suicidal behavior. Methods: In a lo ngitudinal-epidemiological study, 3-year-old children were classified into groups based on examiner observations of their behavior. At age 2 1 years, they were reassessed for psychopathologic functioning using s tandardized interviews based on DSM-III-R criteria. Results: Although effect sizes were small, undercontrolled (includes children who are im pulsive, restless, and distractible) and inhibited (includes children who are shy, fearful, and easily upset) children differed significantl y from comparison children in young adulthood. Under-controlled 3-year -olds were more likely at 21 years to meet diagnostic criteria for ant isocial personality disorder and to be involved in crime. Inhibited 3- year-olds were more likely at 21 years to meet diagnostic criteria for depression. Both groups were more likely to attempt suicide, and boys in both groups had alcohol-related problems. Controls for family soci al class did not change the findings. Conclusion: Some forms of adult psychopathologic abnormality are meaningfully linked, albeit weakly, t o behavioral differences observed among children in the third year of life.