In-Depth Information on Conduct Disorder
For more detailed information on Conduct Disorder, including symptoms, treatment, real-life stories, and questions and answers, see About Conduct Disorder.
Overview of Conduct Disorder
The child with a Conduct Disorder (CD) does not respect authority, has little regard for the basic rights of others and breaks major societal rules. The behaviors must be repetitive and show a persistent pattern and fall into four main groupings:
- Aggressive conduct that causes or threatens physical harm to other people or animals
- Destructive conduct that causes property loss or damage, such as fire setting or vandalism
- Deceitfulness or theft, such as breaking into stores or homes and shoplifting
- Serious violations of rules, such as truancy or repeated running away overnight
The behavioral disturbance can cause significant problems in social, academic or occupational functioning. The diagnosis is differentiated by beginning before or after the age of 10.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), a manifestation of Conduct Disorder, is characterized by a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient and hostile behavior. To warrant a diagnosis of ODD, the child must show frequent occurrence of at least four behaviors such as losing temper, arguing with and defying adults, deliberately doing things that will annoy other people.
Cause: The cause of this disorder is believed to be a combination of genetic vulnerability and environmental factors
Treatment: Early treatment and identification of children with early-onset CD is vital: the earlier the age of onset, the worse the prognosis. Treatment plans might include behavior therapy with the child and parents and pharmacotherapy.
Related Articles
The following articles are arranged chronologically, according to the date of publication or last update.
Organizations
Browse through a list of staff-selected organizations and online resources to learn more about Conduct Disorder
