title: Outcomes of conduct problems in adolescence: 40 year follow-up of national cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe long term outcomes associated with externalising behaviour in adolescence, defined in this study as conduct problems reported by a teacher, in a population based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study from age 13-53.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (the British 1946 birth cohort).
  
  
  METHODS
  3652 survey members assessed by their teachers for symptoms of externalising behaviour at age 13 and 15.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mental disorder, alcohol abuse, relationship difficulties, highest level of education, social class, unemployment, and financial difficulties at ages 36-53.
  
  
  RESULTS
  348 adolescents were identified with severe externalising behaviour, 1051 with mild externalising behaviour, and 2253 with no externalising behaviour. All negative outcomes measured in adulthood were more common in those with severe or mild externalising behaviour in adolescence, as rated by teachers, compared with those with no externalising behaviour. Adolescents with severe externalising behaviour were more likely to leave school without any qualifications (65.2%; adjusted odds ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval 2.9 to 5.5), as were those with mild externalising behaviour (52.2%; 2.3, 1.9 to 2.8), compared with those with no externalising behaviour (30.8%). On a composite measure of global adversity throughout adulthood that included mental health, family life and relationships, and educational and economic problems, those with severe externalising behaviour scored significantly higher (40.1% in top quarter), as did those with mild externalising behaviour (28.3%), compared with those with no externalising behaviour (17.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents who exhibit externalising behaviour experience multiple social and health impairments that adversely affect them, their families, and society throughout adult life.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 13-130D Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2G3. ian.colman@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colman
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Rosemary A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maughan
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuh
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Croudace
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult