The Incredible Years Program for Children from Infancy to Pre-adolescence: Prevention and Treatment of Behavior Problems

The incidence of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) in children is alarmingly high, with reported cases of early-onset conduct problems occurring in 4–6% of young children (Egger & Angold, 2006), and as high as 35% of young children in low-income families (Webster-Stratton & Hammond, 1998). Developmental theorists have suggested that “early starter” delinquents who first exhibit ODD symptoms in the preschool years have a twofold to threefold risk of becoming chronic juvenile offenders (Loeber et al., 1993; Patterson, Capaldi, & Bank, 1991) compared to typically developing children (Snyder, 2001). Children with early-onset CD also account for a disproportionate share of delinquent acts in adolescence and adulthood, including interpersonal violence, substance abuse, and property crimes. In fact, the primary developmental pathway for serious CDs in adolescence and adulthood appears to be established during the preschool period. Early onset conduct problems represent one of the most costly mental disorders to society because such a large proportion of antisocial children remain involved with mental health agencies or criminal justice systems throughout the course of their lives.