PLACEBO-RESPONSE IN AGGRESSIVE-CHILDREN WITH CONDUCT DISORDER

Aggressiveness and explosiveness characterize a subgroup of children d iagnosed with conduct disorder (CD). Few double-blind, placebo-control led studies have been conducted in aggressive children with CD, and no study has differentiated placebo responders from nonresponders. This study examined factors that may differentiate placebo responders from nonresponders hospitalized in a structured setting. The sample consist ed of 25 children, ages 6.25 to 11.95 years, with CD and a profile of aggressive and explosive behavior who were assigned to placebo treatme nt as part of a double-blind study of lithium. Responders were compare d to nonresponders with respect to a detrimental psychosocial environm ental score, age, IQ, and baseline ratings on the Children's Psychiatr ic Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impressions. Responders had signif icantly higher detrimental psychosocial environmental scores than nonr esponders; they were particularly more likely to come from violent hom es and to have criminally charged parents. Demographic variables did n ot distinguish the two groups; however, even mild hyperactivity was as sociated with poorer response to placebo.