Distinct Contributions of Conduct and Oppositional Defiant Symptoms to Adult Antisocial Behavior

Abstract
ASSOCIATIONS have been found repeatedly between both childhood disruptive behavioral disorders and adult sociopathy in parents and similar disorders in their offspring.1-7 Furthermore, separate genetic and environmental influences—and perhaps a synergistic interaction—have been demonstrated many times for these same disorders. This assertion is supported by an extensive literature consisting of both adoption8-19 and twin studies20-22 Other reports show that juvenile behavioral disturbances are strong predictors of adult antisocial behavior.2,5,23-27