Teenagers with brothers and sisters who exhibit severe antisocial behaviour share a similar impairment with their siblings in recognising emotions, according to a new study from the University.

As the brothers and sisters of those with CD are significantly more likely to develop antisocial behaviour themselves, the findings suggest that similar difficulties in facial emotion recognition could be a factor that contributes to this increased risk.

“Young people with Conduct Disorder place a greater burden on legal, healthcare and educational services than their typically developing peers,” says the University’s Dr Graeme Fairchild, who led the study. “It is vital to understand the underlying factors behind this condition that might explain why antisocial behaviour sometimes runs in families.

The researchers studied healthy control subjects, adolescents diagnosed with conduct disorder, and unaffected siblings with a sibling?who has conduct disorder.

The non-antisocial siblings of those with conduct disorder also showed impaired recognition of anger, happiness, and to a lesser extent fear, when compared with the control group.

For more information about this research please visit the University website.