The impact of early onset conduct disorder on depression among adolescent girls versus boys: Gender matters

Gender plays an important role in the development of conduct disorder (CD) and depression. Loeber and Keenan (1994) suggested that when females have CD, they suffer from more severe psychopathology which may be expressed in increased comorbidity of CD and depression. In addition, those with early onset CD have also been found to be at a higher risk for more serious psychopathology. This study examines the relationship between CD and depression in 213 adolescents (59.2% male) with early and late onset CD. Females were more likely to have a Major Depressive Episode, higher depressive symptoms, and a stronger relationship between depressive and CD symptoms. There was some evidence that males with early onset CD were at a higher risk for depressive symptoms compared to late onset males; however, females with early onset CD did not demonstrate the same increased risk. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.