title: Functional outcomes of child and adolescent oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in young adult men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oppositional defiant disorder(ODD) is considered to be a disorder of childhood, yet evidence suggests that prevalence rates of the disorder are stable into late adolescence and trajectories of symptoms persist into young adulthood. Functional outcomes associated with ODD through childhood and adolescence include conflict within families, poor peer relationships, peer rejection, and academic difficulties. Little examination of functional outcomes in adulthood associated with ODD has been undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for the present analyses come from a clinic referred sample of 177 boys aged 7-12 followed up annually to age 18 and again at age 24. Annual parental report of psychopathology through adolescence was used to predict self-reported functional outcomes at 24.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for parent reported symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Conduct disorder (CD), depression and anxiety, ODD symptoms from childhood through adolescence predicted poorer age 24 functioning with peers, poorer romantic relationships, a poorer paternal relationship, and having nobody who would provide a recommendation for a job. CD symptoms predicted workplace problems, poor maternal relationship, lower academic attainment, and violent injuries. Only parent reported ODD symptoms and child reported CD symptoms predicted a composite of poor adult outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oppositional defiant disorder is a disorder that significantly interferes with functioning, particularly in social or interpersonal relationships. The persistence of impairment associated with ODD into young adulthood calls for a reconsideration of ODD as a disorder limited to childhood.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Khrista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boylan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Oppositional defiant disorder; adulthood; impairment; outcomes