Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T15:31:14.086Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hyperactivity and conduct disorder: exploring origins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Paul Mcardle ,
Gregory O'Brien  and
Israel Kolvin
Paul Mcardle
Affiliation:
Fleming Nuffield Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AE, England
Gregory O'Brien
Affiliation:
Northgate HospitalMorp NE61 3BP, England
Israel Kolvin
Affiliation:
Tavistock Centre 120 Belsize Lane NW3 5BA, England
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: This paper explores the relationship of hyperactivity (HA), conduct disorder (CD) and combined hyperactivity and conduct disorder (HACD) with certain environmental and biological stresses and vulnerabilities.

Method: It is based upon a large epidemiological database from the North of England.

Results: The findings suggest that CD is uncommon and strongly related to environmental stresses. This is true to a lesser extent of HACD. While both CD and HACD were related to family adversity and adverse styles of parental discipline, subtly different patterns of associations are also evident. In particular, CD is linked with poverty, parental violence and contact with child care social agencies. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that HA contributes to a pattern of confrontation and punishment associated, in some cases, with the emergence of a more complex combination disturbance. However, CD occurs against a background of family conflict and poor child-care.

Conclusions: Most apparent cases of conduct disorder are in fact hybrid conditions including symptoms of HA and CD. True CD should be diagnosed not only by positive symptomatology but also by the absence of hyperactivity symptoms.

Keywords

Conduct disorderHyperactivityStressEnvironmentalBiologicalChildhood
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , June 2002 , pp. 42 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Costello, E, Angold, A. Bad behaviour: an historical perspective on disorders of conduct. In: Hill, J, Maughan, B (eds). Conduct Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.Google Scholar
2.Mercier, C. Conduct and its disorders biologically considered. London: Macmillan and Co., 1911.Google Scholar
3.Goodman, R, Stevenson, J. A twin study of hyperactivity 1. An examination of hyperactivity score and categories derived from Rutter teacher and parent questionnaire scores. J Child Psychology Psychiatry 1989; 30(5): 671–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Ounsted, C. The Hyperkinetic syndrome in epileptic children. The Lancet 1955; 2: 303–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.World Health Organisation. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva: WHO, 1992.Google Scholar
6.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Ed. Washington DC, 1994.Google Scholar
7.Shaffer, D, Greenhill, L. A critical note on the predictive validity of ‘the hyperkinetic syndrome’. J Child Psychol Psychiatry Allied Dis 1979; 20(1): 61–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Werry, J, Reeves, J, Elkind, G. Attention deficit, conduct, oppositional and anxiety disorders in children: 1. a review of research on differentiating characteristics. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiatry 1987; 26(2): 133–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Rutter, M. Syndromes attributed to ‘minimal brain dysfunction’ in childhood. Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139(1): 21–33.Google ScholarPubMed
10.Taylor, E, Schachar, R, Thorley, G, Weiselberg, M. Conduct disorder and hyperactivity 1: separation of hyperactivity and antisocial conduct in British child psychiatric patients. Br J Psychiatry 1986; 149: 760–767.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Thorley, G. Towards a hyperkinetic syndrome. In: Taylor, E (ed). Clinics in Developmental Medicine no 79. The Overactive Child. Spastics International Medical Publications, Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd, 1986.Google Scholar
12.Schachar, R, Wachsmuth, R. Family dysfunction and psychosocial adversity: comparison of attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, normal and clinical screen-negatives. Can J Behav Sci 1991; 23(3): 332–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Schachar, R, Tannock, R. Test of four hypotheses for the comorbidity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiatry 1995; 34(5): 639–48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Schachar, R. Childhood hyperactivity. J Child Psychol Psych 1991; 32(1): 155–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Szatmari, P, Boyle, M, Offord, D. ADDH and conduct disorder: degree of diagnostic overlap and differences among correlates. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiatry 1989 b; 28(6): 865–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Shapiro, S, Garfinkel, H. The occurrence of behaviour disorders in children: the interdependence of attention deficit disorder and conduct disorder. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry 1986; 25(6): 809–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Taylor, E, Sandberg, S, Thorley, G, Giles, S. The Epidemiology of Childhood Hyperactivity. Maudsley Monographs 33. Oxford University Press, 1991.Google Scholar
18.Strauss, A, Kephart, N. Comparative psychopathology of the brain injured child and the traumatic brain injured adult. Am J Psychiatry 1943; 99: 835–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Wender, P. Minimal brain dysfunction in children. New York: Wiley, 1971.Google ScholarPubMed
20.Pasamanick, B, Knobloch, H, Lilienfield, A. Socioeconomic status and some precursors of neuropsychiatric disorder. Am J Orthopsychiatry 1956; 26: 594–601.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Brown, Get al.A prospective study of children with head injuries: 111. Psychiatric sequelae. Psychol Med 1981; 11: 63–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Rubia, K, Taylor, E, Smith, A, Oksannen, H, Overmeyer, S, Newman, S. Neuropsychological analyses of impulsiveness in childhood hyperactivity. Br J Psychiatry 2001; 179: 138–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23.Thompson, P, Giedd, J, Woods, R, Macdonald, D, Evans, A, Toga, A. Growth patterns in the developing brain detected by using continuum mechanical tensor maps. Nature 2000; 404: 190–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Raine, A, Lencz, T, Bihrle, S, La Casse, L, Colletti, P. Reduced prefrontal gray matter volume and reduced autonomic activity in antisocial personality disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2000; 57: 119–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25.Klein, R, Abikoff, H, Klass, E, Ganeles, D, Seese, L, Pollack, S. Clinical efficacy of methylphenidate in conduct disorder with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997; 54(12): 1073–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26.Kolvin, I, Garside, R, Nicol, A, Macmillan, A, Wolstenholme, F, Leitch, I. Help Starts Here: The Maladjusted Child in the Ordinary School. Tavistock Publications, 1981.Google Scholar
27.Rutter, M. A children's behaviour questionnaire for completion by teachers: preliminary findings. J Child Psychology Psychiatry 1967; 8, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Macmillan, A, Walker, L, Garside, R, Kolvin, I, Leitch, I, Nicol, A. The development and application of sociometric techniques for the identification of isolated and rejected children. J Assoc Workers with the Maladjusted Child 1978; 6: 58–74.Google Scholar
29.Eysenck, S. Manual of the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory. London: University of London Press, 1965.Google Scholar
30.Young, D. Manual for the Group Reading Test. London: University of London Press, 1968.Google Scholar
31.Macmillan, A, Kolvin, I, Garside, R, Nicol, A, Leitch, I. A multiple criterion screen for identifying school children with psychiatric disorder. Psychological Med 1980; 10: 265–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32.Kolvin, I, Garside, R, Nicol, R, Leitch, I, Macmillan, A. Screening school children for high risk of emotional and educational disorder. Br J Psychiat 1977; 131: 192–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33.Schachar, R, Rutter, M, Smith, A. The characteristics of situationally and pervasively hyperactive children: implications for syndrome definition. J Child Psychology Psychiatry 1981; 22: 375–92.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34.McGee, R, Williams, S, Bradshaw, J, Chapel, J, Robins, A, Silva, P. The Rutter scale for completion by teachers: factor structure and relationships with cognitive abilities and family adversity for a sample of New Zealand children. J Child Psychology Psychiatry 1985b; 26(5): 727–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35.Wrate, R, Kolvin, I, Garside, R, Wolstenholme, F, Hulbert, C, Leitch, I. Helping seriously disturbed children. In: AR, Nicol (ed). Longitudinal Studies in Child Psychology Psychiatry. Chichester: Wiley & Sons, 1985.Google Scholar
36.World Health Organisation. Glossary of Mental Disorders and Guide to their Classification: for use in conjunction with the International Classification of Disease, 9th revision. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1978.Google Scholar
37.Registrar General's Office. Classification of Occupations. London: HMSO, 1951.Google Scholar
38.McArdle, P, O'Brien, G, Kolvin, I. Hyperactivity: prevalence and relationship with conduct disorder. J Child Psychology Psychiatry 1995; 36(2): 279–305.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39.Lyons-Ruth, K. Attachment relationships among children with aggressive behaviour problems: the role of disorganised early attachment patterns. J Cons Clin Psychology 1996; 64(1): 64–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40.Rutter, M. Clinical implications of attachment concepts: retrospect and prospect. J Child Psychology Psychiatry 1995; 36(4): 549–72.Google ScholarPubMed
41.Greenberg, M, Speltz, M, DeKlyen, M. The role of attachment in the early development of disruptive behaviour problems. Development and Psychopathology 1993; 5: 191–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42.Woodward, L, Taylor, E, Dowdney, L. The parenting and family functioning of children with hyperactivity. J Child Psychol Psychiatry Allied Disc 1998; 39(2): 161–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
43.McGee, R, Williams, S, Silva, P. Background characteristics of aggressive, hyperactive and aggressive-hyperactive boys. J Am Acad Child Psychiat 1984; 23, 3: 280–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44.Boyle, M, Offord, D, Racine, Y, Szatmari, P, Sanford, M, Fleming, J. Adequacy of interviews vs checklists for classifying childhood psychiatric disorder based on parent reports. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1997; 54(9): 793–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45.MTA Cooperative Group. Fourteen-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999; 56: 1073–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar