Five-year predictive validity of DSM-IV conduct disorder research diagnosis in 4(1/2)-5-year-old children.
OBJECTIVE
This longitudinal study of a non-referred, population-based sample tested the 5-year predictive validity of the DSM-IV conduct disorder (CD) research diagnosis in children 4(1/2)-5 years of age.


METHODS
In the E-Risk Study, a representative birth cohort of 2,232 children, mothers were interviewed and teachers completed mailed questionnaires to assess children's past 6-month CD symptoms. A follow-up assessment was conducted when children were 10 years old.


RESULTS
CD-diagnosed 5-year-olds were significantly more likely than controls to have behavioural and educational difficulties at age 10. Increased risk for age-10 educational difficulties persisted after controlling for age-5 IQ and ADHD diagnosis. Although the majority of CD-diagnosed 5-year-olds had no CD symptoms at age 10, findings suggest that these "remitted" children continued to experience behavioural and educational problems 5 years later despite their apparent remission from CD.


CONCLUSIONS
DSM-IV CD symptoms validly identify preschool-aged children who continue to have behavioural and educational problems in middle-childhood.
Kim-Cohen
Julia
J
Dept. of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. julia.Kim-cohen@yale.edu
Arseneault
Louise
L
Newcombe
Rhiannon
R
Adams
Felicity
F
Bolton
Heather
H
Cant
Lisa
L
Delgado
Kira
K
Freeman
Jo
J
Golaszewski
Ania
A
Kelesidi
Katerina
K
Matthews
Charlotte
C
Mountain
Nicky
N
Oxley
Donna
D
Watson
Susanne
S
Werts
Helen
H
Caspi
Avshalom
A
Moffitt
Terrie E
TE
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index