Comparing Executive Function Between Adolescents With Conduct Disorder and the Normal Ones in Iranian Population

Background: Although conduct disorder during the past few decades experienced a rapid extension, few researches are done on the role of executive function in this disorder. The current study aimed to investigate the role of executive functions in task disorder. Materials and Methods: It was a causal-comparative study. The study sample consisted of adolescents with conduct disorder kept in a juvenile institution in Isfahan, Iran, in 2013. The sample of 60 patients included 30 adolescents with conduct disorder and 30 normal ones. The accessible sampling method was used and continuous performance tests and theWechsler subscale of similarities and numerical memory were performed on them. Results: There was a significant difference in the executive functions of working memory and fluid reasoning, between normal adolescents and the ones with conduct disorder. Themeanof fluid reasoning (P> 0.001) and workingmemory (P> 0.001) in normal adolescents was significantly greater than that of the ones with conduct disorder. But there was no difference between the two groups in sustained attention. The performance of the conduct disorder group in functions of workingmemory and fluid reasoning (P > 0.001) was lower than the normal group. Conclusions: According to the study findings, comparedto the normal group, the conduct disorder grouphada lower performance in executive functions. Therefore, to provide therapeutic interventions for conduct disorder, more attention should be paid to the role of deficits in executive functions.