Conduct Disorders

Conduct Disorder: Conduct Disorder Treatment in child and adult

Definition of conduct disorder

Conduct disorder (CD) is a behavioral and emotional disorder of childhood and adolescence. Children with conduct disorder act inappropriately, infringe on the rights of others, and violate the behavioral expectations of others.

Conduct disorder is the most serious psychiatric disorder in childhood and adolescence. Research suggests that conduct disorder is a more severe form of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and the childhood equivalent of antisocial personality disorder.

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV) of Conduct Disorder

1. A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated, as manifested by the presence of three (or more) of the following criteria in the past 12 months, with at least one criterion present in the past 6 months:

   Aggression to people and animals

   1. often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others
   2. often initiates physical fights
   3. has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others (e.g., a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun)
   4. has been physically cruel to people
   5. has been physically cruel to animals
   6. has stolen while confronting a victim (e.g., mugging, purse snatching, extortion, armed robbery)
   7. has forced someone into sexual activity

   Destruction of property

   1. has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage
   2. has deliberately destroyed others' property (other than by fire setting)

   Deceitfulness or theft

   1. has broken into someone else's house, building, or car
   2. often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligations (i.e., "cons" others)
   3. has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim (e.g., shoplifting, but without breaking and entering; forgery)

   Serious violations of rules

   1. often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before age 13 years
   2. has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in parental or parental surrogate home (or once without returning for a lengthy period)
   3. is often truant from school, beginning before age 13 years
2. The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
3. If the individual is age 18 years or older, criteria are not met for Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Conduct Disorder Symptom

Many youth with conduct disorder may have trouble feeling and expressing empathy or remorse and reading social cues. These youth often misinterpret the actions of others as being hostile or aggressive and respond by escalating the situation into conflict. Conduct disorder may also be associated with other difficulties such as substance use, risk-taking behavior, school problems, and physical injury from accidents or fights.

Conduct Disorder Cause

Certain children have a genetic vulnerability to this disorder, the nature of which is unclear. When that vulnerability is combined with certain high-risk environmental factors, such as poverty, parental neglect, marital discord, parental illness, parental alcoholism, and having a parent with antisocial personality disorder, chances of CD increase.

Conduct disorder or Oppositional defiant disorder

ADHD and conduct disorders

Disruptive Behavior Disorders - Conduct Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder NOS

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have family member diagnoised with hystercial dementia. She is 68, remembers past and present issues, knows everyone but like child with ADD. Husband used too many psych drugs and is Phychatrist. she is rememved from there home by Adult Prot. Agency and has improved phycially over the past year. Had been in bed 24-7 for almost a year from drugs he gave her until family stepped in. Thank you - Donna S. Voorhees

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