The current study utilized both variable- and person-oriented analyses to examine correlatesof early disruptive behavior problems. Participants included 80 preschool boys referred to a childpsychiatry clinic and diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (with or withoutattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and 80 case-matched normal comparison boys. The studyexamined four domains of correlates: vulnerable child characteristics, poor parenting practices,insecure attachment, and adverse family ecology. Results indicated that the combination of thesefactors provided relatively high sensitivity (81%) and specificity (85%), clearlydifferentiating referred from comparison boys. A dramatic increase in clinic status occurred whenthree or more factors were present, and specific combinations of factors were differentiallypredictive of conduct problems. However, no correlates were found to be either necessary orsufficient for clinic status. By maintaining the integrity of individual cases, person-orientedanalyses were able to answer different questions than more traditional variable-oriented analyses.Discussion focuses on the value of person-oriented analyses for understanding heterogeneousclinical groups.