Résumé

Approximately 5% of males display antisocial and aggressive behaviour that emerges in childhood and remains stable throughout life. They commit more than 50% of all violent crimes. In addition, they assault others, participate in the illegal drug trade, do not work or pay taxes. The first goal of the proposed project is to estimate the burden this small group of males places on Canadian society in order to inform policy decisions regarding investment in child and family focused prevention programmes. The second goal is to identify distinctive sub-types within the population of males who display stable antisocial behaviour. These sub-types, we propose, differ as to the traits of psychopathy and symptoms of anxiety. This evidence is needed in order to investigate the mechanisms that initiate and maintain antisocial behaviour and to develop childhood intervention programmes that are tailored to the needs of different sub-types of boys presenting antisocial behaviour. There is presently no effective treatment for persistent antisocial behaviour. Interventions in childhood present the greatest potential for success. The present project will provide evidence about the treatment needs at different ages of each sub-type of males who engage in persistent antisocial behaviour. To achieve these goals, the proposed project will examine 2631 men, aged 30-33, who have been participating in a study since they were 6 years old. We will collect official records to identify all those who have a criminal conviction (~376) and a random sample of 350 with no record of criminality. We will interview these 726 men in order to assess mental health, psychosocial functioning, and aggressive behaviour, and collect their health files. This new information will be combined with parent, teacher, and self-reports of behaviour, symptoms, and parenting, and official reports of maltreatment, delinquency and social service interventions collected since age 6.

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