To Örebro University

Purpose: We investigated whether childhood psychopathic personality traits predicted subsequent self-reported and register-based criminality and psychiatric outcomes when childhood behavioral problems (conduct disorder [CD] and ADHD symptoms) were accounted for.

Methods: In the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden, parents rated their children's (n = 12,394) psychopathic personality traits, CD, and ADHD symptoms at age 9/12. We studied the risk for self-reported delinquency, problematic substance use, and anxiety/depression at age 18. The sample was also linked to nationwide registers where we studied suspicion of crimes, and diagnoses of substance use disorders and anxiety/depression up to age 21.

Results: Childhood psychopathic personality traits were associated with self-reported delinquency (β = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.41–0.90) and suspicions of violent (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.33, [1.23–1.45]) and non-violent (HR = 1.28, [1.22–1.36]) crimes. The estimates were attenuated, but remained elevated for delinquency and violent crimes after accounting for childhood behavioral problems. Psychopathic personality traits were associated with substance use problems and anxiety/depression, but these associations were mainly explained by childhood behavioral problems.

Conclusions: Psychopathic personality traits were a risk marker for criminality and psychiatric outcomes, particularly in children with co-occurring behavioral problems. However, the independent contribution of psychopathic personality traits was modest at best, when behavioral problems were accounted for.