ANTISOCIAL-BEHAVIOR, SOMATIZATION, AND SENSATION-SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN MOTHERS OF CLINIC-REFERRED CHILDREN

Objective: The relationship between antisocial behavior and somatizati on was studied in a sample of mothers of clinic-referred, school-age c hildren. The goat was to overcome some of the methodological limitatio ns of past research in this area and to provide a preliminary test of the theory that these disorders share a common substrate: a tendency t oward behavioral disinhibition. Method: Structured diagnostic intervie ws and an objective personality measure were used to assess antisocial behavior and somatization in a sample of 90 biological mothers (mean age 34 years) of children referred to an outpatient mental health clin ic. A rating scale measure of sensation-seeking behavior was used as a measure of behavioral disinhibition. Structured interviews were used to assess a history of antisocial behavior in the children and their b iological fathers. Results: Results indicated a link between somatizat ion and antisocial behavior both within individuals and across generat ions. This intergenerational link could not be solely accounted for by assortative mating between women with somatization and antisocial men . Both somatization and antisocial behavior were correlated with score s on the sensation seeking scale. Conclusions: These findings are cons istent with the theory that antisocial behavior and somatization are r elated syndromes and that behavioral disinhibition may be a common pre disposition that underlies both.