Response Inhibition in Children with Conduct Disorder:A Preliminary Report

Response inhibition is a process that enables a person to suspend an on going behavioral response in accordance with an unexpected event. Children with deficits in response inhibition therefore would find it difficult to process errors, incorporate feedback and modify their actions. Conduct disorder has been known to have poor prognosis and are associated with socio-occupational impairments, disorganized families and clashes with law and order. The facilities available to these children and family needs to be cost effective and hence a better understanding of the core nature of the problem would lead to building programs that shall prevent them from being burden to the prevailing system. The study examines Response Inhibition in children with conduct disorder in comparison with Typically Developing Children. The sample comprised of two groups-Children with Conduct Disorder&Typically Developing Children(n=13)aged 11-15 years were assessed on response inhibition using Stroop type of tests-Word&Picture and Stop Signal Test (SST). The resulting data was analysed using Mann Whitney U Test and Spearman's rho. Significant group differences were noted between the two groups m a subtest of Word Stroop Test. Findings support provision for inhibition Training as part of management of children with Conduct Disorder.