Child and adolescent psychiatry: childhood-onset conduct disorder: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Child and adolescent psychiatry: childhood-onset conduct disorder

Sample item

Two boys are assessed. Boy A showed aggression and rule-breaking before age 10 with ADHD and harsh parenting. Boy B first broke rules at 15 with a delinquent peer group. Which statement about prognosis is correct?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Boy A is at higher risk of persistent antisocial behaviour and adult antisocial personality

Childhood-onset conduct disorder, especially with ADHD and adverse upbringing, tends to persist and often leads to adult antisocial personality disorder. Adolescent-onset forms are often limited to the teenage years.

Option by option

  • A. Neither has any risk of adult antisocial behaviour

    Early-onset conduct disorder carries a substantial risk of adult antisocial behaviour.

  • B. Boy B is at higher risk of persistent antisocial behaviour

    Adolescent-onset conduct problems are more often transient.

  • C. Boy A is at higher risk of persistent antisocial behaviour and adult antisocial personality (correct)

    Correct. Early onset is the stronger predictor of persistence.

  • D. Both have the same risk

    The risk differs between the two onset types.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Boy A is at higher risk of persistent antisocial behaviour and adult antisocial personality. Childhood-onset conduct disorder, especially with ADHD and adverse upbringing, tends to persist and often leads to adult antisocial personality disorder.

Why is "Neither has any risk of adult antisocial behaviour" not the answer?

Early-onset conduct disorder carries a substantial risk of adult antisocial behaviour.

Why is "Boy B is at higher risk of persistent antisocial behaviour" not the answer?

Adolescent-onset conduct problems are more often transient.

Why is "Both have the same risk" not the answer?

The risk differs between the two onset types.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: childhood-onset conduct disorder in Psychiatry. Adolescent-onset forms are often limited to the teenage years.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Child and adolescent psychiatry: childhood-onset conduct disorder?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.