Next, we tested whether ODD predicted CD at both symptom and diagnostic levels. For the symptom analyses we used ODD symptoms at wave 1 to predict maximum CD symptom count at any subsequent childhood or adolescent study wave. The mean wave 1 ODD symptom count was .8 (SD = 1.3 Range: 0 - 8), and the mean maximum CD symptom count over subsequent waves was .8 (SD = 1.2, range 0 – 9). In an ordinal logistic regression model controlling for age and sex, ODD symptom count at wave 1 was a significant predictor of later maximum CD symptom count (OR for a 1 symptom increase in ODD symptoms=1.4, 95% CI: 1.3, 1.6, p<.001). This effect remained strongly significant (OR=1.2, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.4, p=.005) when wave 1 symptom counts for CD, generalized anxiety, depression and hyperactivity were included in the model. The ODD to CD prediction was similar for boys and girls (interaction p=.512).
