title: Psychopathology and age at onset of conduct problems in juvenile delinquents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to assess psychopathology among incarcerated Russian juvenile delinquents in relation to the onset of conduct problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  358 male juvenile delinquents were interviewed from January to September 1999, using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version. Early behavior problems, current antisocial behavior, and psychopathology were also assessed through self-reports. The presence of conduct disorder (CD) and other diagnoses was determined according to DSM-IV criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  73.2% of the incarcerated youths met criteria for CD. 23.5% of the total sample reported at least 1 criterion for CD being present before the age of 10 years. All participants from this early-onset group fulfilled the criteria for CD. This group also had significantly higher rates of psychopathology, and particularly of externalizing behaviors, as compared with youths whose conduct problems began at or after the age of 10 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor psychosocial adaptation and future prognosis in juvenile delinquents with early-onset conduct problems may be related to their greater degree of psychiatric disturbance compared with later-onset delinquent youths. Need for psychiatric treatment should be carefully considered in prevention and rehabilitation efforts for troubled youths.
authors.affiliation: Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA. vladislav.ruchkin@yale.edu
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruchkin
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koposov
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vermeiren
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwab-Stone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology