Specifically, callous-unemotional (CU) traits (e.g. lack of guilt, absence of empathy, callous use of others) are relatively stable and are associated with more severe conduct problems, delinquency, or aggression.
Studies have found fairly consistent associations between externalizing problems such as conduct disorders (delinquency, aggressiveness, impulsiveness) and substance abuse (cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and use of other illicit drugs) and increased rates of early and high risk sexual behavior [ 29, 32, 33].
We see increased aggression in young children, significant lowering of IQ especially in young girls, higher rates of conduct disorder and delinquency.
For example, Avshalom Caspi and colleagues found that which version of the MAO-A gene you carry affects your risk of ending up with a diagnosis of "conduct disorder" or delinquency in adolescence.
Externalising symptoms (e.g., arguing, being mean or destructive, getting into fights, stealing, setting fires) are associated for instance with conduct disorder and delinquency [ 6].
We need further large scale intervention studies to finally answer whether targeting emotional disorders is likely to reduce the association between conduct disorder and delinquency.
We conducted a literature search for studies on interactions between these polymorphisms and indices of postnatal family adversity in predicting externalizing behaviors (i.e., aggression, behavioral problems, antisocial behavior, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD), delinquency, psychopathy).
Until now, studies on correlates of juvenile offending by neighborhood SES have mainly focused on general population samples, using different outcome measures, such as antisocial behavior, aggression, conduct problems and delinquency.
In low resource countries an average of 14.3% has been estimated [ 5] and the commonest problems are anxiety disorders; depressive disorders; conduct disorders and delinquency; learning disabilities and mental retardation [ 4- 6]; problems like ADHD and autistic spectrum disorders are not as commonly reported as in high income countries [ 7, 8].
Others observed higher frequencies of behavioral problems such as disruptive behavior, conduct disorder, and delinquency, including substance abuse, in both male and female children of smokers (Brennan et al. 2002; Fergusson 1999; Fergusson et al. 1993; Maughan et al. 2001; Wakschlag et al. 1997).
The consultant, Ken Gourlay of Detroit, is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bail and faces 10 felony charges, including criminal sexual conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and distributing child pornography.
