Identifying children in the Colorado Adoption Project at risk for conduct disorder.
Clustering techniques were used to identify a subsample of young adopted and nonadopted children in the Colorado Adoption Project at risk for conduct disorder. Although data from both boys and girls were analyzed, a cluster of girls large enough for subsequent statistical analysis could not be identified; therefore, results are reported for boys only. Identifying measures were selected based on the DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria. Cluster analyses confirmed the existence of a small group of boys who appeared to be significantly at risk. Subsequent parental and teacher ratings of these children verified the stability over time of the classification. The poor conduct group was significantly associated with difficult temperament in infancy, with poor conduct on the part of parents when they were youths, and with high achievement orientation in the home environment.
Coon
H
H
Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132.
Carey
G
G
Corley
R
R
Fulker
D W
DW
D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003120:Colorado; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment