Of 26 teenage mothers in a nonclinical sample, one-third were found to have a diagnosis of conduct disorder; of these, two-thirds were also diagnosed with substance abuse or dependence. Conduct disorder as a risk factor for adolescent pregnancy and substance use is discussed, as are the implications for preventive intervention.

PIP: This study assessed the prevalence of conduct and substance use disorders in a nonclinical sample of 26 adolescents who were pregnant or had recently given birth. The girls were recruited from a special programs for adolescent or at-risk mothers in Texas. Interviews were conducted using the National Institutes of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version III-Revised and a questionnaire about controlled substance use during pregnancy. Analysis revealed that 9 girls suffered from conduct disorder and that 7 of these girls also exhibited adult symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. Conduct disorder symptoms preceded first coitus in 6 of the girls. 9 girls were diagnosed with substance abuse or substance dependence (including 6 of the 9 with conduct disorder, 4 of whom abused or were dependent on drugs and alcohol). Only 6 girls smoked during pregnancy (5 from the conduct disorder group and 1 with alcohol dependency). Only 1 girl (a member of the conduct disorder group) admitted to using drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. This study is limited by the nonrepresentational sample used, but it indicates that large, representative samples should be studied to determine the prevalence of conduct disorder and substance abuse in this population. While conduct disorder is not the only pathway to adolescent pregnancy, many of the presumed correlates of adolescent pregnancy may be due to conduct disorder. A diagnosis of conduct disorder, therefore, would identify girls at risk for adolescent pregnancy and for drug and alcohol problems and poor pregnancy outcome. These adolescents and any children they may have may require specific prevention programs.