Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, Vol 16(1), Jan 2025, 31-42; doi:10.1037/per0000708
A multispecifier model for subtyping children and adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) has been proposed that, in addition to callous-unemotional (CU) traits, also considers grandiose-manipulative (GM) and daring-impulsive (DI) traits. Yet, concerns have been raised about the potential overlap of these latter two specifiers with existing CD criteria and their limited added value to the prediction of etiologically and clinically relevant correlates. The present study was designed to address these concerns while using data from 286 detained boys with a CD diagnosis (ages 16 to 17 years). In addition to a diagnostic interview, participants completed questionnaires that assessed GM, CU, and DI traits, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and external correlates. Findings showed that all three specifiers were weakly to moderately correlated to the CD symptom scores. In support of the CU subtyping scheme, CU traits incrementally contributed to the prediction of various external correlates, beyond the total number of CD symptoms, childhood-onset CD, and ADHD symptoms. Importantly, GM and DI traits also significantly added to the prediction of etiologically (i.e., maternal parenting, empathy, and anxiety) and clinically (i.e., proactive aggression and substance use) relevant correlates beyond CU traits. In conclusion, this study suggests that GM and DI traits, just like CU traits, add to the classification of detained boys with CD and have validity for subtyping CD. Nevertheless, a systematic evaluation of the multispecifier model for CD and related concerns is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the utility of having additional specifiers for CD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)