Conduct Disorders in Seven-year-old Children – Results of
ELSPAC Study – 1. Co-morbidity
1Kukla L., 2Hrubá D., 3Tyrlík M., 2Matějová H.
1Výzkumné pracoviště preventivní a sociální pediatrie LF MU, Brno 2Ústav preventivního lékařství LF MU, Brno 3Psychologický ústav FF MU, Brno |
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Summary:
Background. The interest of experts in conduct disorders (CD) research is growing during the last two
decades. The research areas include the diagnostics, ethiopathogenesis and treatment and also the comorbidity,
especially with the hyperkinetic syndrome incidence (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder – ADHD). This paper intends to describe the conduct disorder occurrence and its other
manifestations of divergence found during the investigation of children followed in the prospective
longitudinal study ELSPAC in seven, respectively eight years of their age.
Methods and Results. Data of 6100 seven-year-old children characterizing their behaviour was
collected from mothers and attending physicians. In the school year during which this investigation
phase took place 2518 of the children reached eight years of age and their behaviour, temperament and
school results were also evaluated by their teachers. The children were divided into three groups
according to the presence or absence of the symptoms, which characterize conduct disorders (found by
physicians): „stubborn negativistic behaviour“, „inability to pay attention“, „aggressiveness“ and
„inadequacy of reactions“. The presence of two of these symptoms was found in 3%, presence of all four
symptoms in additional 1.4% of children. Parents and teachers more often indicated various symptoms
of hyperactivity in children with conduct disorders.
Conclusions. In almost 5% of the ELSPAC cohort children in seven years of their age those
symptoms were diagnosed, which match the Conduct Disorder criteria and Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) criteria. In agreement with similar studies these frequent comorbidities
were found: sleep disorders, psychomotor development disorders and laterality changes. The cognitive abilities evaluated by mothers and also teachers based on schoolwork results
were more often worsened in children with conduct disorders. Various data indicating their worse
social adaptability (which significantly disturbed the class) occurred more frequently in these
children.
Key words:
conduct disorders, psychomotor development, ELSPAC, seven-year-old children,
co-morbidity.
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