Do Callous–Unemotional Traits and Conduct Disorder Symptoms Predict the Onset and Development of Adolescent Substance Use?

Abstract

Despite strong evidence of the relationship between conduct disorder (CD) symptoms and substance use, it is unclear how callous–unemotional (CU) traits predict substance use over and above CD symptoms, and their potential interaction. This study used data from 753 participants followed from grade 7 to 2-years post-high school. Latent growth curve models showed that CU traits predicted the onset of cigarette use, alcohol misuse, and a substance use composite at grade 7 only when no CD symptoms were present. Among those without CD symptoms, boys showed greater change in the odds of using cigarettes, and were more likely to misuse alcohol or use any substance at grade 7 than girls. However, CD symptoms, CU traits, and their interaction did not predict the linear rates of growth of substance use over time. Thus, CU traits may uniquely predict adolescent substance use when CD symptoms are not present. This research has implications for predicting onset of adolescent substance use and for incorporating the assessment of CU traits into interventions targeting adolescent substance use.

Initial Investigation of the Psychometric Properties of the Limited Prosocial Emotions Questionnaire (LPEQ)

“…Arguably, these results suggest that LPE is a strong candidate to be considered a transdiagnostic measure of psychopathology as it provides useful information about children’s mental health in a manner that cuts across existing categorical definitions of psychopathology—in this case, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and neither (Fusar-Poli et al, 2019). While more data are needed, this study fits with emerging work calling for LPE to possibly be considered as a specifier in diagnostic models of oppositional defiant disorder (Anderson et al, 2018; Barker et al, 2011; Frick et al, 2003; Kumsta et al, 2012; Rowe et al, 2010).…”

Genetic and environmental influences on the developmental trajectory of callous‐unemotional traits from childhood to adolescence

“…Callous-unemotional (CU) traitsincluding diminished ability to feel guilt and reduced concern for other people's feelingscharacterize a subset of children at risk of developing persistent antisocial behaviour (Pardini & Frick, 2013;Viding & Kimonis, 2018). CU traits have received interest as a specifier for conduct disorder diagnosis in the DSM-5 (termed 'limited prosocial emotions'; Frick, Ray, Thornton, & Kahn, 2014), but also in their own right as an indicator of risky outcomes besides conduct problems, such as substance use, criminal offending and childhood psychopathology (Anderson, Zheng, & McMahon, 2018;Kahn, Byrd, & Pardini, 2013;Moran et al, 2009). Studies investigating the origins of CU traits using twin data have proliferated in the past 15 years (Viding & McCrory, 2012, 2018.…”

Validation and measurement invariance of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in Chinese incarcerated and normative samples.

“…Unsurprisingly, the incarcerated sample showed higher levels of Callousness and Uncaring than the normative sample, as reported in previous Western studies (Feilhauer et al, 2012; Pihet et al, 2015). These findings highlight the potential value of screening for and measuring CU traits in youth involved with the justice system, as well as children and youth who demonstrate high levels of CU features early on, given that they are at higher risk for delinquency and violent offenses (Essau et al, 2006; Kimonis et al, 2008), substance use (Anderson et al, 2018), risky sexual behaviors (Anderson et al, 2017), and recidivism (Kahn et al, 2013), as well as incarceration for criminal acts as adults.…”

“…Callous-unemotional (CU) traits (e.g., shallow affect, a lack of concern about or interest in one's performance in important activities, a lack of remorse and empathy) distinguish a subgroup of individuals demonstrating aggressive, chronic, and severe patterns of antisocial behaviors in community, clinical, and forensic samples, both concurrently and longitudinally (Frick et al, 2014a(Frick et al, , 2014b. Individuals with elevated levels of CU traits also demonstrate genetic risk and impaired neurocognitive patterns (Viding & McCrory, 2018), affect-recognition deficits (Marsh & Blair, 2008), aggression and delinquency (Essau et al, 2006;Kimonis et al, 2008), risky sexual behaviors (Anderson et al, 2017), violent recidivism (Kahn et al, 2013), and substance use (Anderson et al, 2018). Therefore, the presence of CU traits has implications for further understanding the development, persistence, and desistance of antisocial behavior from childhood to adulthood.…”