title: Cognitive and Executive Functions in Colombian School Children with Conduct Disorder: Sex Differences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most of the studies that have examined cognitive and executive functions in conduct disorders (CD) have been conducted on institutionalized male adolescents. In this research the cognitive and executive functions of non-institutionalized Colombian school children with CD were compared with normal school children, all between 6 and 12 years-old.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a case-control design. The cases were participants who met the diagnostic criteria for CD (n=39) and controls who did not meet these criteria (n=39), according to reports of a professional of the participants' institution, and a structured interview for childhood psychiatric syndromes. The two groups were selected from educational institutions, and there were no differences in age, school grade, or socioeconomic level. The IQ was reviewed, as well as the presence of other mental disorders, serious physical illnesses, and more serious neurological signs. The cognitive and executive functions were evaluated using a child neuropsychological test battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that participants with CD had significantly lower scores in construction abilities, perceptual abilities (tactile, visual and auditory), differed in verbal memory, differed in visual memory, language (repetition, expression and understanding), meta-linguistic abilities, spatial abilities, visual and auditory attention, conceptual abilities, verbal and graphic fluency, and cognitive flexibility. The same differences were found between males, except in repetition, whereas girls showed fewer differences, thus the cognitive and executive performance was poorer in males with CD than in females, especially in verbal and linguistic-related functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with CD could show generalized cognitive and executive deficits. These deficits seem to be more frequent in boys than in girls with CD.
authors.affiliation: San Buenaventura University, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Gina Rocío
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Urazán-Torres
authors.affiliation: San Buenaventura University, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mario José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Puche-Cabrera
authors.affiliation: San Buenaventura University, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mangelli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caballero-Forero
authors.affiliation: San Buenaventura University, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: cesar.rey@uptc.edu.co.
authors.forename: César Armando
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rey-Anacona
keywords: Cognición; Cognition; Conduct disorder; Executive function; Funciones Ejecutivas; Neuropsicología; Neuropsychology; Trastorno disocial