title: Temperamental correlates of disruptive behavior disorders in young children: preliminary findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to test the hypothesis that temperamental behavioral disinhibition measured in early childhood would be associated with disruptive behavior disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used variables from laboratory-based behavioral observations originally devised to assess behavioral inhibition to construct a theory-based a priori definition of "behavioral disinhibition" in 200 young children at-risk for panic disorder, depression, or both and 84 children of parents without anxiety or major depressive disorder. We then compared behaviorally disinhibited and nonbehaviorally disinhibited children on rates of DSM-III-R disorders and measures of academic and social dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Behavioral disinhibition was significantly associated with higher rates of disruptive behavior disorders and mood disorders. Children with behavioral disinhibition were significantly more likely than nondisinhibited, noninhibited children to have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to have comorbid mood and disruptive behavior disorders. Moreover, disinhibited children had lower Global Assessment of Functioning Scale scores and were more likely to have been in special classes and to have problems with school behavior and leisure activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that behavioral disinhibition may represent a temperamental precursor to disruptive behavior problems, particularly ADHD. Longitudinal studies using behavioral assessments of behavioral disinhibition are needed to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 149, 13th Street, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Dina R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hirshfeld-Becker
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biederman
authors.forename: Stephen V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Faraone
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Violette
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wrightsman
authors.forename: Jerrold F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013694:Temperament