Adult outcomes of childhood disruptive disorders in offspring of depressed and healthy parents

Abstract Background Longitudinal studies of children with disruptive disorders (DDs) have shown high rates of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and substance use in adulthood, but few have examined the contribution of parental disorders. We examine child-/adulthood outcomes of DDs in offspring, whose biological parents did not have a history of ASPD, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders. Method Offspring (N = 267) of parents with or without major depression (MDD), but no ASPD or bipolar disorders were followed longitudinally over 33 years, and associations between DDs and psychiatric and functional outcomes were tested. Results Eighty-nine (33%) offspring had a DD. Those with, compared to without DDs, had higher rates of MDD (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 3.42, p  Limitations Associations are largely accounted for by conduct disorder (CD), as there were few offspring with ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) was not diagnosed at the time this study began. Conclusion If there is no familial risk for ASPD, bipolar disorder or substance use, childhood DDs do not lead to ASPD in adulthood; however, the children still have poorer prognosis into midlife. Early treatment of children with DD, particularly CD, while carefully considering familial risk for these disorders, may help mitigate later adversity.