School dropout and conduct disorder in Brazilian elementary school students.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between DSM-IV conduct disorder (CD) and school dropout in a sample of students from the third and fourth elementary grades at state schools in the capital of the southernmost state of Brazil.


METHODS
In this case-control study, students that dropped out of schools (n = 44) and a control group who continued attending schools (n = 44) were assessed for CD and other prevalent mental disorders, using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children, Epidemiological Version (K-SADS-E).


RESULTS
The prevalence of DSM-IV CD was significantly higher in the school-dropout group than in control subjects (P < 0.001), both in the entire sample and in a subsample including only subjects under age 12 years (P = 0.001). Also, the odds ratio (OR) for school dropout was significantly higher in the presence of DSM-IV CD, even after controlling for potential confounding factors (age, estimated IQ, school repetition, family structure, and income) (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results extend to children and young adolescents previous findings from studies of older adolescents, suggesting an association between school dropout and CD.
Tramontina
S
S
Serviço de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 90035-003.
Martins
S
S
Michalowski
M B
MB
Ketzer
C R
CR
Eizirik
M
M
Biederman
J
J
Rohde
L A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data