Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

DSM-IV Conduct Disorder symptoms in adolescents as markers of registered criminality

  • ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
  • Published:
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A nationwide sample of 1,079 Norwegian adolescent psychiatric in-patients, 581 males and 498 females, were followed up after 11–33 (mean 23.2) years. On the basis of detailed records from index hospitalisation they were re-diagnosed and retrospectively scored on 14 of the 15 behaviour items listed as diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder in DSM-IV. The patient list was linked to the national criminal registry, and 48 % were found to have a criminal record.

The ability of the 14 behaviour items to identify overall and specific kinds of registered criminality was investigated. In males, “stealing” was the strongest marker for overall and violent crime. “Having forced someone into sexual activity” was a strong marker for later sex offences. In females, “running away from home” was strongly associated with overall and violent registered criminality.

ROC curves were constructed to test the sensitivity and specificity of the sum of conduct disorder behaviour items fulfilled in the identification of individuals with registered criminality. The area under the curve was 0.81 (95 % c. i. = 0.78–0.85) in males and 0.75 (95 % c. i. = 0.71–0.80) in females. A cut-off at 3 criteria fulfilled seemed optimal in males and somewhat high in females.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Accepted: 17 May 2001

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kjelsberg, E. DSM-IV Conduct Disorder symptoms in adolescents as markers of registered criminality. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 11, 2–9 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007870200001

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007870200001

Navigation