Parent- and self-reported dimensions of oppositionality in youth: construct validity, concurrent validity, and the prediction of criminal outcomes in adulthood.
BACKGROUND
Different dimensions of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) have been found as valid predictors of further mental health problems and antisocial behaviors in youth. The present study aimed at testing the construct, concurrent, and predictive validity of ODD dimensions derived from parent- and self-report measures.


METHODS
Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test a three-dimensional model (ODD-irritability, ODD-headstrong, and ODD-hurtful) and a two-dimensional model (ODD-irritability, ODD-headstrong/hurtful) based on items of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Youth Self Report (YSR) collected in a Swiss community study of 1,031 adolescents (519 boys, 512 girls) aged between 10.7 and 17.9 (M = 13.85, SD = 1.63) years. Logistic regression analyses were applied to predict scores in the clinical range of concurrent CBCL/YSR-anxiety/depression, CBCL/YSR-attention problems, and CBCL/YSR-delinquent behavior and depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) as well as to predict the presence of adult criminal convictions.


RESULTS
CFA findings were in favor of a three-dimensional model rather than a two-dimensional model of ODD. The CBCL/YSR-ODD-irritability scale was related to concurrent self-reported depression, but also to attention problems and delinquent behavior. CBCL/YSR-ODD-hurtful and less strongly also the combined YSR-headstrong/hurtful scale predicted adult criminal outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
As proposed by the DSM-5 workgroup, different ODD-dimensions were confirmed by the present study. ODD-irritability predicts psychiatric comorbidity and ODD-hurtful symptoms should be specifically considered in youth at risk for criminal outcomes.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. maebi@ppkj.uzh.ch
Marcel
M
Aebi
Belinda
B
Plattner
Christa Winkler
CW
Metzke
Cornelia
C
Bessler
Hans-Christoph
HC
Steinhausen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
CBCL; Oppositionality; YSR; child and adolescent psychopathology; oppositional defiant disorder