Psychophysiological responses in ADHD boys with and without conduct disorder: Implications for adult antisocial behavior

Objective: Several studies have demonstrated that the presence of attention -deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood increases the risk of a ntisocial behavior developing in adulthood. However, because previous resea rch did not consider comorbid conduct disorder (CD), the question of whethe r ADHD by itself or only the association of ADHD with CD implies a risk of adult antisocial behavior developing is still under discussion. Method: Bec ause several characteristics of psychophysiological response had been shown to be associated with future increased likelihood of adult antisocial beha vior, autonomic arousal as well as electrodermal responses to orienting and aversive stimuli were assessed in 26 boys with ADHD+CD compared with 21 bo ys with ADHD alone and 21 controls. Results: Boys with a comorbid condition of ADHD+CD showed a decrement of autonomic responses and a more rapid habi tuation to orienting and aversive startling stimuli compared with age-match ed children with ADHD alone. Conclusions: Boys with ADHD+CD show a psychoph ysiological response pattern that is very similar to that reported in antis ocial personalities. These findings give further support for a high persist ence of antisocial behavior from childhood to adulthood, while no evidence was found that ADHD itself is associated with a predisposition to antisocia l behavior.