People with costly problems ‘could be identified at an early age’

Expensive social costs pertaining to healthcare and community issues could be minimised by identifying people who are most likely to incur such costs at an early age.

This is according to a new study from Duke University, which involved an analysis of the lives of nearly 1,000 people from birth to age 38 and revealed that a small portion of them accounted for the majority of the cost burden on society.

One-fifth of the study population were responsible for 81 percent of criminal convictions, 77 percent of fatherless child-rearing, three-quarters of drug prescriptions, two-thirds of welfare benefits and more than half of hospital nights and cigarettes smoked.

Terrie Moffitt, a professor of psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Duke University, said: "Apparently, the same few clients use the courts, welfare benefits, disability services, children's services and the healthcare system. These systems could be more joined up."

Based on this finding, assessments of brain health at the age of three could make it possible to identify early which people are most likely to fall into this group and offer tailored support, leading to benefits for the individuals concerned and society as a whole.

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