OVERT CATEGORICAL AGGRESSION IN REFERRED CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Objective: To investigate descriptive and predictive correlates of agg ression in children and adolescents who exhibit a high frequency of da ily physical assault after admission to a structured residential treat ment program and to examine correlations between subcategories of over t categorical aggression (OCA) in the same population. Method: Fifty-o ne admissions to a residential treatment program were assessed for fre quency of physical assault after admission; analyses were corrected fo r length of stay. Patients with a high frequency of daily assault were compared with patients with a low frequency of daily assault on varia bles assessing demographics, history, family, concurrent behavior, tre atment, and outcome. Results: A high prevalence of OCA was found in th is sample. Variables assessing history and concurrent behavior were si gnificantly associated and predictive of subjects exhibiting a high fr equency of daily physical assault after admission. Physical assault wa s significantly correlated with verbal aggression, property destructio n, and self-injurious behavior. Conclusions: These findings support th e distinctiveness of OCA as a separate subtype of aggression encompass ing four subcategories. Further research on treatment, outcome, and as sociated comorbidity of OCA is warranted.