Subgrouping conduct disorder by psychiatric family history.

The family history of psychiatric disorders, and clinical and demographic characteristics of boys with pervasive aggressive conduct disorder (PACD) were compared to those of boys with situational aggressive conduct disorder and controls. Boys with PACD came from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, had an earlier age of onset, and higher rates of hyperactivity and inattention than boys in the other two groups. Their mothers abused drugs more often than those of boys in the other two groups, while their fathers had more frequent antisocial behavior. Alcohol abuse was more prevalent among fathers of both conduct disorder groups, compared to the fathers of controls.