Heterogeneity Within Youth With Childhood-Onset Conduct Disorder in the ABCD Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine if personality traits can be used to characterize subgroups of youth diagnosed with childhood-onset conduct disorder (CD). Participants were 11,552 youth from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. Data used in this report came from doi: 10.15154/1504041 (M age 9.92; 45.3% female, 49.6% white, 19.0% Hispanic). A subset of this sample (n = 365) met criteria for CD. Latent profile analyses (LPA) were performed on this subgroup (n = 365) to define profiles of individuals with CD based on self-report measures of impulsivity, punishment sensitivity, reward response, and callous-unemotional traits. Follow up analyses determined if these groups differed on clinically relevant variables including psychopathology, environmental risk factors, social risk factors, and neurocognitive functioning. Participants with a CD diagnosis scored significantly higher on psychological, environmental, social, and neurocognitive risk factors. The LPA revealed three unique profiles, which differed significantly on liability for broad psychopathology and domain-specific liability for externalizing psychopathology but were largely matched on environmental and social risk factors. These unique configurations provide a useful way to further parse clinically relevant subgroups within youth who meet criteria for childhood-onset CD, setting the stage for prospective longitudinal research using these latent profiles to better understand the development of youth with childhood-onset CD.

Assessment and Treatment of Childhood-Onset Conduct Disorder: A Literature Review

“…Confirming reduced P300 amplitude as a valuable marker for conduct problems at such a young age supports the early identification of childhood-onset CD and promote favorable outcomes due to early assessment. Topic 2: Treatment for Childhood-Onset CD Treatment for childhood-onset CD is proven difficult due to the client's age and understanding, treatmentinterfering CD traits, and the required involvement of family members and teachers [4]. A commonality across the four studies included under the treatment topic emphasizes the involvement of the family to produce favorable outcomes in symptom management.…”

“…The underdevelopment of frontal lobes and synaptic connections at this early age range contributes to poor executive functioning, decision making, and emotional regulation [3]. The heterogeneity of CD coincides with the risk of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in adulthood [4]. Current research suggests that this risk is more pronounced in childhood-onset CD and comorbid externalizing mental disorders such as CD and ADHD.…”

“…While research has focused on dispositional risk factors for this heterogenous disorder (such as being male and having a family history of CD and/or antisocial personality disorder), it is imperative to examine evidencebased clinical assessment and treatment strategies tailored to children who display childhood-onset type CD [4]. Current assessment protocols outlined in the DSM-V highlight the importance of involving multiple informants, such as family, personnel from school, social services, and the client themselves, in the process [5].…”