Early-onset Antisocial Behavior Research Articles

A preliminary empirical evaluation of KooLKIDS: A school-based program to reduce early onset antisocial behaviour in children

ABSTRACTBackground The aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary empirical evaluation of the KooLKIDS program, a school-based intervention that utilises a combination of whole-of-class and individual sessions for young children with early onset antisocial behaviour.Method Trained facilitators delivered the 13-session program to a completer sample of 49 primary school-aged children (7–11 years) with early onset antisocial behaviour (42 boys and seven girls suspended from school or at risk for suspension) and their peers.Results Analyses showed significant postintervention reductions on many outcome variables, including teacher and child self-rated aggression and antisocial traits. Significant improvements were also found on measures of emotional intensity and peer acceptance. Acceptability and feasibility data were promising.Conclusion KooLKIDS has the potential for redirecting the trajectory of antisocial behaviour towards more positive social and emotional outcomes for these at-risk children.

Language impairments among youth offenders: A systematic review

Low levels of verbal intelligence have long been associated with risk for early onset antisocial behavior, however considerably less is known about the deficits in specific language skills that may characterize antisocial youth. Youth offenders represent a particularly high priority group for research into such deficits, as the juvenile justice system involves a range of high-stakes situations that rely upon the application of language skills. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of the evidence currently available regarding the discrete language skills of youth offenders, spanning structural, pragmatic, expressive and receptive language domains. Seventeen studies meeting search criteria were identified, 16 of which reported on independent samples. Findings from these studies provide considerable evidence that youth offenders perform poorly on language measures relative to age matched peers. Study results are examined in relation to three key questions: (1) How strong is the association between language impairments and youth offending? (2) Are some language skills or modalities more impaired than others in youth offender populations; and (3) What biopsychosocial factors have been shown to influence the relationship between language impairments and youth offending? Implications for policy and practice are discussed, along with directions for future research.

An Amygdala Structural Abnormality Common to Two Subtypes of Conduct Disorder: A Neurodevelopmental Conundrum

An Amygdala Structural Abnormality Common to Two Subtypes of Conduct Disorder: A Neurodevelopmental Conundrum

The importance of early anti‐social behaviour among men with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder in a specialist forensic psychiatry hospital unit in Denmark

People with a major mental disorder are at increased risk of committing crimes, especially violent crimes, compared with the general population. Sub-groups have been identified based on age of onset of anti-social or violent behaviour. Mentally disordered offenders with early onset anti-social behaviour tend to have a lifelong pattern of it, but in a clinical setting, are they easily identifiable as a distinct sub-group? Our main aim was to establish whether distinct groups of early and later onset offenders can be identified from the standard clinical record of men with schizophrenia spectrum disorders selected for hospital treatment after conviction for a serious crime, and to test the hypothesis that even in such a clinically selected group, early onset offending would be associated with subsequent persistent and versatile offending. A retrospective case file review of all 83 men with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder in a complete 2-year discharge cohort from one specialist secure forensic hospital unit (2001-2002). A sub-group of patients with early onset anti-social behaviour was confirmed. Prior to this specialist hospitalisation, this group had sustained significantly more criminal convictions and were more criminally versatile than their late onset peers. The recognition of clinically meaningful sub-groups among hospitalised offender patients seems straightforward, and may be useful in the development of more specifically focused intervention and in making sense of more longer-term outcomes.

Randomised controlled trial of parent groups for child antisocial behaviour targeting multiple risk factors: the SPOKES project

There is a pressing need for cost-effective population-based interventions to tackle early-onset antisocial behaviour. As this is determined by many factors, it would seem logical to devise interventions that address several influences while using an efficient means of delivery. The aim of this trial was to change four risk factors that predict poor outcome: ineffective parenting, conduct problems, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and low reading ability. A randomised controlled trial was carried out in eight schools in London, England. Nine hundred and thirty-six (936) 6-year-old children were screened for antisocial behaviour, then parents of 112 high scorers were randomised to parenting groups held in schools or control; 109 were followed up a year later. The intervention lasted 28 weeks and was novel as it had components to address both child behaviour (through the Incredible Years programme) and child literacy (through a new 'SPOKES' programme to help parents read with their children). Fidelity of implementation was emphasised by careful training of therapists and weekly supervision. Controls received an information helpline. Assessment of conduct problems was by parent interview, parenting by direct observation and child reading by psychometric testing. At follow-up parents allocated to the intervention used play, praise and rewards, and time out more often than controls, and harsh discipline less; effect sizes ranged from .31 to .59 sd (p-values .046 to .005). Compared to control children, whose behaviour didn't change, intervention children's conduct problems reduced by .52sd, (p < .001), dropping from the 80th to the 61st percentile; oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) halved from 60% to 31% (p = .003). ADHD symptoms reduced by .44sd (p = .002), and reading age improved by six months (.36sd, p = .027). Teacher-rated behaviour didn't change. The programme cost pound2,380 ($3,800) per child. Effective population-based early intervention to improve the functioning of with antisocial behaviour is practically feasible by targeting multiple risk factors and emphasising implementation fidelity.

Editorial: Preschool behaviour problems – over‐pathologised or under‐identified? A developmental psychopathology perspective is needed

Editorial: Preschool behaviour problems – over‐pathologised or under‐identified? A developmental psychopathology perspective is needed

Aetiology of antisocial behaviour

Abstract In this paper we briefly and selectively review the current knowledge base of the nature and nurture for persistent, early-onset antisocial behaviour, with a particular focus on studies that have examined potential etiologic distinctions such as callous-unemotional subtype of antisocial behaviour. First, we discuss results from recent studies that indicate that callous-unemotional traits can be used to distinguish two different subtypes of conduct problems at a behavioural, cognitive–affective, and possibly neural level. Second, we review genetically informative studies on antisocial behaviour keeping in mind the distinction of callous-unemotional subtype. Data from these two lines of research (i.e., genetic, neurocognitive studies) to date suggest that antisocial children with callous-unemotional traits are genetically more vulnerable to antisocial behaviour than their antisocial peers and that this genetic vulnerability may manifest in a distinct neurocognitive signature. In this paper we also highlight the complex interplay between nature and nurture and provide examples of how putative environmental risk factors for antisocial behaviour can be studied using behavioural genetic research designs. Finally, we give some pointers of new research strategies in the field and draw out implications of this research to practice.

Heritability of antisocial behaviour at 9: do callous‐unemotional traits matter?

A previous finding from our group indicated that teacher-rated antisocial behaviour (AB) among 7-year-olds is particularly heritable in the presence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Using a sample of 1865 same-sex twin pairs, we employed DeFries-Fulker extremes analysis to investigate whether teacher-rated AB with/without CU traits also shows aetiological differences among 9-year-olds. Furthermore, we assessed whether the differences in the magnitude of heritability would be evident even when hyperactive symptoms were controlled for in the statistical analysis. AB among 9-year-olds was more heritable with than without concomitant CU. The heritability difference was even more pronounced in magnitude when hyperactive symptoms were controlled. CU traits thus appear to index one valid way of sub-typing children with early-onset AB.

Catechol O-Methyltransferase Gene Variant and Birth Weight Predict Early-Onset Antisocial Behavior in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Catechol O-Methyltransferase Gene Variant and Birth Weight Predict Early-Onset Antisocial Behavior in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

COMT Val108/158Met Gene Variant, Birth Weight, and Conduct Disorder in Children With ADHD

In a recent study, Thapar and colleagues reported that COMT "gene variant and birth weight predict early-onset antisocial behavior in children" with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We have attempted to replicate these findings in a group of ADHD children using a similar research design. Children (n=191) between 6 and 12 years of age who were diagnosed with ADHD were included in the study. Conduct disorder was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria based on clinical evaluation and a structured interview (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV). The mother's report on the child's birth weight was used in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis, with genotype and birth weight as independent variables and DSM-IV conduct disorder as the dependent variable, was conducted. No significant main effects of genotype and birth weight or interaction effects on conduct disorder were observed. In this sample of children diagnosed with ADHD, we find no association between the COMT ValMet gene variant, birth weight, and conduct disorder. Further investigations are required before using birth weight and COMT genotype as predictors of conduct disorder in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, especially given the societal and legal ramifications of conduct disorder.

Catechol O-Methyltransferase Gene Variant and Birth Weight Predict Early-Onset Antisocial Behavior in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Early-onset antisocial behavior accompanied by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a clinically severe variant of antisocial behavior that is associated with a particularly poor outcome. Identifying early predictors is thus important. Genetic and prenatal environmental risk factors and prefrontal cortical function are thought to contribute. Recent evidence suggests that prefrontal cortical function is influenced by a valine/methionine variant in the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. To test the a priori hypothesis that this genetic variant predicts early-onset antisocial behavior in a high-risk sample and further examine the effects of birth weight, an environmentally influenced index of prenatal adversity previously linked to childhood disruptive behaviors and genotype x birth weight interaction. A family-based genetic study was undertaken between 1997 and 2003. Participants were prospectively recruited from child and adolescent psychiatry and child health clinics in the United Kingdom and included 240 clinic children who met diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or hyperkinetic disorder. Participants underwent comprehensive standardized assessments including measures of antisocial behavior and IQ. Main Outcome Measure DSM-IV symptoms of childhood-onset conduct disorder rated by trained interviewers using a standard diagnostic interview. The results show main effects of the COMT gene variant (P = .002), birth weight (P = .002), and a significant gene x environment (COMT x birth weight) interaction (P = .006). Early-onset antisocial behavior in a high-risk clinical group is predicted by a specific COMT gene variant previously linked with prefrontal cortical function and birth weight, and those possessing the val/val genotype are more susceptible to the adverse effects of prenatal risk as indexed by lower birth weight.

The influence of perinatal complications and environmental adversity on boys’ antisocial behavior

The purpose of the present study was to test components of Raine's (2002) biosocial model, specifically the interactive effects of perinatal complications, rejecting parenting, and family adversity on the development of early-onset antisocial behavior (ASB). Boys' internalizing problems were also tested to investigate the specificity of the model. Birth records in addition to longitudinal data were collected on 310 low-income boys followed from birth until 10 years of age. Findings demonstrated support for a biosocial framework in predicting ASB but not internalizing problems. Family adversity, and to some extent rejecting parenting, consistently predicted youth outcome. Perinatal complications emerged as a predictor of ASB but only in the context of other family risk factors. According to maternal report, boys experiencing high levels of perinatal complications, rejecting parenting, and family adversity showed significantly higher levels of ASB than boys with lower levels of these risk factors. This finding was partially corroborated by youth self-report, such that boys experiencing high levels of perinatal complications and family adversity reported more antisocial activity than boys experiencing no risk or risk in only one domain. This study supports the specific prediction of ASB in middle childhood from a biosocial model. Findings also highlight the salience of a negative psychosocial environment on childhood maladjustment. Intervention efforts including parenting skills and coping strategies for mothers of children from multiple risk environments are advocated.

The application of response allocation matching to understanding risk mechanisms in development: The case of young children's deviant talk and play, and risk for early-onset antisocial behavior.

The application of matching law-response choice paradigm in longitudinal research to identify social environmental and organismic factors that increment risk for the development of maladaptive behavior is described. The fit of data to the matching relation can be used to specify environmental contingencies for problem behavior that may be targeted in preventive and clinical interventions. Deviations in the fit of the data from that predicted by the matching relation can also be used to identify sources of variability in individuals' responsiveness to standardized, contingency-based interventions. The proposed formulation is described in relation to the development and treatment of early-onset conduct problems. Keywords: Matching law, conduct problems, developmental risk research, intervention. ********** This report describes how the matching law-response choice paradigm derived from operant research can be applied in longitudinal research to identify social environmental variables that increment risk for the development of maladaptive behavior. This information can, in turn, be used to powerfully specify environmental contingencies in preventive and clinical interventions to ameliorate problem behavior. This report additionally considers how between-individual differences in temperament, learning history, and similar person variables may work in concert with environmental contingencies to affect risk for problem behavior. Between-individual variation in observed response choice from that predicted by the matching law can be used to identify individuals who are less responsive to contingency-based intervention strategies. Individual differences in sensitivity to experienced contingencies may account for baseline X intervention variation in behavior change outcomes, and consequently supply information about creating increasingly effective and robust preventive and clinical interventions. This formulation is detailed in the context of the development of antisocial behavior. A Reinforcement Account of the Development of Antisocial Behavior Individuals whose development is characterized by early-onset, life-course persistent antisocial behavior contribute substantially to the incidence of multiple problem behaviors during adolescence and adulthood, including criminal activity, drug misuse and abuse, domestic violence, and early child-bearing (Reid, Patterson, & Snyder, 2002). Consequently, efforts to identify malleable social-environmental variables occurring during childhood that increment risk for such trajectories are critical to the development of effective preventive and clinical interventions (Reid & Eddy, 1997). Research suggests that reinforcement contingencies operating in familial (Snyder & Stoolmiller, 2002), peer (Snyder, 2002), and classroom (Walker, Horner, Sugai, Bullis, Sprague, Bricker, & Kaufman, 1996) environments are one source of risk for early appearing conduct problems. This has led to a number of empirically validated, contingency-based interventions to ameliorate risk, including parent training (Brestan & Eyberg, 1998), playground monitoring (Stoolmiller, Eddy, & Reid, 2000), and classroom management (Gorman-Smith, 2003). Given that the theoretical mechanisms underlying environmental risk and intervention effectiveness are thought to involve social reinforcement contingencies, remarkably little research has focused on explicitly testing whether reinforcement mechanisms account for developmental risk or serve as mediators of intervention effects (for exceptions, see Dishion, Spracklen, Andrews, & Patterson, 1996; Schrepferman & Snyder, 2002; Snyder & Patterson, 1995). As such, reinforcement theory is really being applied in a metaphorical manner. Much greater effort has been spent on examining the effectiveness, efficacy and sustainability of interventions for antisocial behavior (Kellam & Langevin, 2003). …