Attention problems versus conduct problems as 6-year predictors of signs of disturbance in a national sample.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether attention problems predicted different signs of disturbance than conduct problems over 3 and 6 years.


METHODS
Gender-specific criteria for deviance on parents' ratings of attention versus conduct problems were tested as predictors of interview-reported signs of disturbance in a national sample first assessed at ages 4 to 16 years.


RESULTS
Males and females deviant on both attention and conduct problems showed higher rates of several signs of disturbance than did those deviant on only one type of problem. Subjects deviant only on conduct problems showed higher rates of several signs than did controls, whereas those deviant only on attention problems exceeded controls mainly on special education services. Unaggressive "delinquent" conduct problems predicted dropping out of school, unwed pregnancy, and total signs for both genders during transitions to adulthood.


CONCLUSIONS
Attention problems predict receipt of special education but contribute much less than conduct problems to predicting other signs of disturbance. Differential assessment of aggressive versus unaggressive conduct problems can improve prediction, as can gender specificity in setting criteria for deviance and in testing outcomes.
MacDonald
V M
VM
Chittenden South School District, Hinesburg, VT, USA.
Achenbach
T M
TM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D012940:Social Problems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology