© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Predictors of antisocial personality
Continuities from childhood to adult life
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School and Institute of Psychiatry, London
Department of Psychology, London Metropolitan University, London
Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, London
School of Epidemiology and Health Science, University of Manchester, Manchester
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
Correspondence: Professor Emily Simonoff, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AZ, UK. E-mail: e.simonoff{at}iop.kcl.ac.uk
Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.
Background Antisocial behaviour in adult life has its roots in childhood.
Aims To explore the independent and joint effects of childhood characteristics on the persistence of antisocial behaviour into adult life.
Method A clinical sample of twins who were systematically ascertained in childhood was followed up 10–25 years later. A total of 225 twins were interviewed regarding childhood and adult psychiatric disorder, psychosocial functioning, and psychosocial and cognitive risk factors.
Results Inunivariate analyses, childhood hyperactivity and conduct disorder showed equally strong prediction of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and criminality in early and mid-adult life. Lower IQ and reading problems were most prominent in their relationships with childhood and adolescent antisocial behaviour. In multivariate modelling childhood conduct disorder and hyperactivity predicted adult ASPD even when intervening risk factors were accounted for. The number of hyperactive and conduct symptoms also predicted adult outcome.
Conclusions Childhood disruptive behaviour has powerful long-term effects on adult antisocial outcomes, which continue into middle adulthood. The importance of number of symptoms, the presence of disruptive disorder, and intermediate experiences highlight three areas where interventions might be targeted.
Related articles in BJP:
- Highlights of this issue
BJP 2004 184: 101-a7.[Full Text] - Peter Tyrer
BJP 2004 184: 192.[Full Text]
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  Y. Molero Samuelson, S. Hodgins, A. Larsson, P. Larm, and A. Tengstrom Adolescent Antisocial Behavior as Predictor of Adverse Outcomes to Age 50: A Follow-Up Study of 1,947 Individuals Criminal Justice and Behavior, February 1, 2010; 37(2): 158 - 174. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. H. Gudjonsson, J. F. Sigurdsson, J. Smari, and Susan Young The Relationship Between Satisfaction with Life, ADHD Symptoms, and Associated Problems Among University Students J Atten Disord, May 1, 2009; 12(6): 507 - 515. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Holmqvist, T. Hill, and A. Lang Effects of Aggression Replacement Training in Young Offender Institutions Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, February 1, 2009; 53(1): 74 - 92. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. Colman, J. Murray, R. A Abbott, B. Maughan, D. Kuh, T. J Croudace, and P. B Jones Outcomes of conduct problems in adolescence: 40 year follow-up of national cohort BMJ, January 13, 2009; 338(jan08_2): a2981 - a2981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. S. David, S. Zammit, G. Lewis, C. Dalman, and P. Allebeck Impairments in Cognition Across the Spectrum of Psychiatric Disorders: Evidence From a Swedish Conscript Cohort Schizophr Bull, November 1, 2008; 34(6): 1035 - 1041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. E. Green, E. L. Gesten, M. A. Greenwald, and O. Salcedo Predicting Delinquency in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A Longitudinal Analysis of Early Risk Factors Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, October 1, 2008; 6(4): 323 - 342. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Young and G. H. Gudjonsson Growing Out of ADHD: The Relationship Between Functioning and Symptoms J Atten Disord, September 1, 2008; 12(2): 162 - 169. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Hodgins Violent behaviour among people with schizophrenia: a framework for investigations of causes, and effective treatment, and prevention Phil Trans R Soc B, August 12, 2008; 363(1503): 2505 - 2518. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Duggan Why are programmes for offenders with personality disorder not informed by the relevant scientific findings? Phil Trans R Soc B, August 12, 2008; 363(1503): 2599 - 2612. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Bibliography for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Focus, July 1, 2008; 6(3): 314 - 316. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. TYRER The British Journal of Psychiatry, June 1, 2006; 188(6): 594 - 594. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. C. Koenen, B. Hitsman, M. J. Lyons, R. Niaura, J. McCaffery, J. Goldberg, S. A. Eisen, W. True, and M. Tsuang A Twin Registry Study of the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Nicotine Dependence in Men Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 2005; 62(11): 1258 - 1265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Hodgins and R. Muller-Isberner Preventing crime by people with schizophrenic disorders: the role of psychiatric services The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2004; 185(3): 245 - 250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|