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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
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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

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