Citation

Rowe R, Maughan B, Moran P, Ford T, Briskman J, Goodman R. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2010; 51(6): 688-695.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02199.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background: Callous and unemotional (CU) traits might usefully subtype DSM‐IV conduct disorder (CD). We investigate this hypothesis in a large, nationally representative sample of 5–16‐year‐olds. We also examine the characteristics of children with high CU traits but without CD.

Methods: Data come from the 2004 British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey including 7,977 children, 5,326 of whom were followed up after 3 years. DSM‐IV diagnoses of psychiatric disorder were based on parent, teacher and child report. CU traits were assessed by parent report.

Results: Of the 2% of the sample who were diagnosed with DSM‐IV CD, 46.1% were high on CU traits. In addition, 2.9% of the sample were high on CU traits without CD. Children with CD and CU traits showed more severe behavioural disturbance and were at substantially higher risk of CD diagnosis 3 years later. Children high on CU traits without CD showed evidence of disturbed functioning.

Conclusions: Subtyping CD using CU traits identifies children with more severe and persistent psychopathology. Children with high CU traits but no CD diagnosis require further investigation.