Does the prevalence of CD and ODD vary across cultures?
OBJECTIVE
The worldwide prevalence of conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is presented to examine the first of four criteria used in other studies to determine the validity of psychiatric disorders across cultures.


METHODS
The authors searched Medline and PsycINFO from 1987 to 2008. Studies were included if they were representative of specific communities or countries and reported point prevalence of CD or ODD according to DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria for children 18 years or younger.


RESULTS
Only methodological and not geographic factors were associated with variability of the prevalence estimates.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are discussed in terms of their significance for the classification of disorders and the need for further research to establish the validity of these two disorders across cultures.
Canino
Glorisa
G
Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA. glorisa.canino@upr.edu
Polanczyk
Guilherme
G
Bauermeister
Jose J
JJ
Rohde
Luis A
LA
Frick
Paul J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology