D)+The+Relationship+Between+Conduct+Disorder+and+Adolescent+Alcohol+Use

= **__The Relationship Between Conduct Disorder and Adolescent Alcohol Use__** =

Research has shown that there is a relationship between the conduct disorder, and alcohol use problems. But much of this research does not explain which comes first; the antisocial behaviours, or the alcohol use. In their 2002 study, Clark, Vanyukov, and Cornelius decided to take a look at the relationship between conduct disorder, and alcohol use. In this study, they discuss that longitudinal studies have provided clear evidence that antisocial behaviours in childhood predict adolescent alcohol use. It is thought that children who display deficits in the ability to control their behaviour, or who display noncompliant behaviours, will often start drinking in early adolescence. Some research suggests that children who display antisocial behaviours in childhood often have parents that have alcohol or substance use problems (Clark, Vanyukov, & Cornelius, 2002). Thus, having parents that use alcohol or drugs inappropriately may increase a child's chances of developing Conduct Disorder, which may ultimately lead to the use of alcohol at a very young age and may persist into adulthood. These results indicate that early childhood characteristics play an important role in the development of adult behaviours.

It is important to note how alcohol could possibly affect the transition between conduct disorder to personality disorder. One study conducted by Myers and Stewart et al. investigated the progression from conduct disorder to antisocial personality disorder among individuals treated for adolescent substance abuse. This study proves to be relevant because of the poor outcomes observed among individuals with antisocial pathology after treatment for alcohol and drug problems (Myers & Stewart et al, 1998). This study was done with 137 substance abusing adolescents, whose average mean age was 15.9 years and met the criteria for conduct disorder. Participants were located and interviewed 4 years after treatment and 61% of the study group met the DSM-III-R Criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Results indicated that onset of deviant behaviour at or before age 10, a greater diversity of deviant behaviour, and more extensive pretreatment drug use best predicted progression to antisocial personality disorder (Myers & Stewart et al, 1998). At a 4 year follow up, the subjects with an antisocial personality disorder diagnosis exhibited more involvement with alcohol and drugs and poorer functioning across important life domains than subjects without antisocial personality disorder. In conclusion, this study found a high rate of progression to antisocial personality disorder amoung substance abusers and identified factors predictive of this progression.



Another study conducted by Myers et al. 2008, examined the evidence that exists for treatment outcomes in teen alcohol and drug abusers who suffer from conduct disorder. Myers study examines the relation between conduct disorder, as assessed by the extent of preadolescent conduct disorder behaviours occuring before the initiation of drug use and outcomes for 131 adolescents over 2 years of inpatient treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. Conduct disorder is hypothesized to influence the process of relapse by altering coping efforts and intentions and increasing exposure to potential relapse situations (Myers, Brown & Mott, 1995). Results reveal that the extent of the conduct disorder behaviours is positively related to alcohol involvement in the 2 years after treatment and that most of this relation is accounted for by posttreatment cognitive coping, motivation for alcohol abstinence, interpersonal problems, and exposure to alcohol use. Overall this study suggests that teens with early life conduct disorder behaviours may be at greater risk for continued alcohol abuse. (Myers, Brown & Mott, 1995).