Financial cost of social exclusion: follow up study of antisocial children into

Abstract

Objectives To compare the cumulative costs of public services used through to adulthood by individuals with three levels of antisocial behaviour in childhood. Design Costs applied to data of 10 year old children from the inner London longitudinal study selectively followed up to adulthood. Setting Inner London borough. Participants 142 individuals divided into three groups in childhood: no problems, conduct problems, and conduct disorder. Main outcome measures Costs in 1998 prices for public services (excluding private, voluntary agency, indirect, and personal costs) used over and above basic universal provision. Results By age 28, costs for individuals with conduct disorder were 10.0 times higher than for those with no problems (95% confidence interval of bootstrap ratio 3.6 to 20.9) and 3.5 times higher than for those with conduct problems (1.7 to 6.2). Mean individual total costs were £70 019 for the conduct disorder group (bootstrap mean difference from no problem group £62 898; £22 692 to £117 896) and £24 324 (£16 707; £6594 to £28 149) for the conduct problem group, compared with £7423 for the no problem group. In all groups crime incurred the greatest cost, followed by extra educational provision, foster and residential care, and state benefits; health costs were smaller. Parental social class had a relatively small effect on antisocial behaviour, and although substantial independent contributions came from being male, having a low reading age, and attending more than two primary schools, conduct disorder still predicted the greatest cost. Conclusions Antisocial behaviour in childhood is a major predictor of how much an individual will cost society. The cost is large and falls on many agencies, yet few agencies contribute to prevention, which could be cost effective.

A review of the economic impact of mental illness

“…Scott et al assessed the costs to the public sector in dealing with children with different levels of antisocial behaviour. 31 By the age of 28, costs for individuals with conduct disorder are 10.0 times higher than for those with no problems and 3.5 times higher than for those with conduct problems.…”

The Diurnal Cortisol Cycle in Delinquent Male Adolescents and Normal Controls

“…Antisocial behavior by children is a major public health problem, with disruptive behavior problem children costing society at least 10 times as much as well developing children (Scott et al, 2001). Antisocial children are at risk for a series of negative outcomes in adulthood, such as criminal behavior, social isolation, unemployment, and psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse (Maughan and Rutter, 2001).…”

Links Between Juvenile Sexually Abusive Behaviour and Emerging Severe Personality Disorder Traits in Childhood

“…Clinically, there are cost benefits to the public purse from early intervention with children presenting with conduct disordered behaviour (Scott, Knapp, Henderson and Maughan, 2001), and children presenting with sexually abusive behaviour (Borduin, Schaeffer and Heiblum, 2004). Therefore, investment in preventative and treatment resources for local child and adolescent services are likely to have long-term benefits.…”