children identified as high-risk for behavioral problems in the United States, those with (N = 59) versus without a CD diagnosis were estimated to consume nearly $70,000 (in year-2000 USD) more per child in public services across adolescence (Foster & Jones, 2005). Across these studies, children with the most severe symptoms incurred the highest public expenditures. However, the longer-term societal and public service costs associated with conduct problem symptoms among children in the general population – who can often be identified based on parent and teacher reports – have not yet been fully described.
