Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder (CD) is defined as a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates the rights of others or in which major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The signs and symptoms of conduct disorder includes aggressive behavior that causes harm to other individuals or animals (e.g., bullying, being physically cruel to animals), non-aggressive conduct that causes property damage (e.g., setting properties on fire or deliberately destructing others’ property), deceitfulness or theft as well as rule violations. (Olsson, 2009). Conduct disorder are more commonly diagnosed in boys than girls. Oftentimes, children with conduct disorder are present with a coexisting condition such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or mood disorders such as depression (Olsson, 2009).

There are several risk factors to why one may be more susceptible to being diagnosed with this disorder that causes them to behave in an antisocial and aggressive manner. Some of these factors include child’s prenatal (e.g., exposure to toxins), the environment that a child has been brought up in (e.g., high level of exposure to violence), child abuse, traumatic life experiences. These factors increase the odds of an individual developing conduct disorder (Frick, P, 2012). Conduct disorder in childhood results in problems in adolescence and adulthood such as troubled peer relationships due to the deficit in processing social cues and are usually academically challenged as well. They are also faced with mental health problems (e.g., substance abuse), legal issues (e.g., risk for arrest) or occupational problems such as poor job performance (Frick, P, 2012). Conduct disorder can be diagnosed by a child psychiatrist or a mental health professional.

There are several treatments available for someone with conduct disorder to better cope with their condition. Such treatments include cognitive-behavior therapy or psychotherapy that can help a child communicate better, handle stress and anger in an appropriate manner. There are existing special education institutions catered for those with learning disabilities. In some cases, medication would be required to treat those with depression or ADHD. Research have shown that early treatment offers a child with a favorable prognosis and eventually allows the child fare better as adults in the future both socially and occupationally (Keiley, 2002).

References:

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2000). The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th ed., text rev.. Washington, DC: Author.

2. Frick, P. (2012). Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. New Orleans. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 10.1080/15374416.2012.664815

3. Keiley, M. K. (2002). Attachment and Affect Regulation: A Framework for Family Treatment of Conduct Disorder. Indiana. WILEY Blackwell. 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2002.41312.x

4. Olsson, Martin (April 2009). Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. Denmark. Taylor & Francis. 10.1080/08039480802626939