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Conduct Disorder: Biology and Developmental Trajectories

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Abstract

For centuries, attempting a successful rehabilitation of youth with antisocial behaviors has challenged juvenile justice systems and society. More recently, advances in science and neuroimaging have permitted a deeper understanding of the biological underpinnings of antisocial behavior and psychopathic tendencies. This paper reviews biological findings in youth with conduct disorder, highlighting comparisons to biological findings in adults with antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy. Overall, youth with conduct disorder exhibit several biological findings that are similar to adults with antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy, consistent with theories that conduct disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that progresses to these adult conditions. There is evidence that treatment interventions might mitigate this progression and induce biological changes. Further, biological findings might guide interventions to rehabilitate youth and change the developmental trajectory of antisocial behaviors.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Alexandra Junewicz & Stephen Bates Billick

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA

    Stephen Bates Billick

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  1. Alexandra Junewicz
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Correspondence to Alexandra Junewicz.

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Junewicz, A., Billick, S.B. Conduct Disorder: Biology and Developmental Trajectories. Psychiatr Q 91, 77–90 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-019-09678-5

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