Conduct Disorder Vvbsrthry

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Conduct Disorder

SYMPTOMS

The essential feature of Conduct Disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior bya child or teenager in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms

or rules are violated. These behaviors fall into four main groupings: aggressive conduct that

causes or threatens physical harm to other people or animals, nonaggressive conduct that

causes property loss or damage, deceitfulness or theft, and serious violations of rules time and

time again.

Specific Symptoms of Conduct Disorder

Conduct Disorder is characterized by 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

often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others often initiates physical fights has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others (e.g., a bat, brick,

broken bottle, knife, gun)

has been physically cruel to people has been physically cruel to animals has stolen while confronting a victim (e.g., mugging, purse snatching, extortion,

armed robbery)

has forced someone into sexual activityDestruction of property

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

Deceitfulness or theft

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

without breaking and entering; forgery)

Serious violations of rules

often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before age 13 years 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)

is often truant from school, beginning before age 13 years


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The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or

occupational functioning.

If the individual is age 18 years or older, criteria are not met for Antisocial Personality

Disorder.

Two subtypes of Conduct Disorder are provided based on the age at onset of the disorder

(i.e., Childhood-Onset Type and Adolescent-Onset Type). The subtypes differ in regard to the

characteristic nature of the presenting conduct problems, developmental course and

prognosis, and gender ratio. Both subtypes can occur in a mild, moderate, or severe form. In

assessing the age at onset, information should preferably be obtained from the youth and

from caregiver(s). Because many of the behaviors may be concealed, caregivers may

underreport symptoms and overestimate the age at onset.

Childhood-Onset Type. This subtype is defined by the onset of at least one criterion

characteristic of Conduct Disorder prior to age 10 years.

Individuals with Childhood-Onset Type are usually male, frequently display physical

aggression toward others, have disturbed peer relationships, may have had

Oppositional Defiant Disorder during early childhood, and usually have symptoms

that meet full criteria for Conduct Disorder prior to puberty. These individuals are

more likely to have persistent Conduct Disorder and to develop adult Antisocial

Personality Disorder than are those with Adolescent-Onset Type.

Adolescent-Onset Type. This subtype is defined by the absence of any criteria

characteristic of Conduct Disorder prior to age 10 years. Compared with those with

the Childhood-Onset Type, these individuals are less likely to display aggressive

behaviors and tend to have more normative peer relationships (although they often

display conduct problems in the company of others). These individuals are less likely

to have persistent Conduct Disorder or to develop adult Antisocial Personality

Disorder. The ratio of males to females with Conduct Disorder is lower for the

Adolescent-Onset Type than for the Childhood-Onset Type

Conduct Disorder Subtypes

Subtypes of Conduct Disorder

There are two subtypes of conduct disorder

Childhood-onset type is defined by the onset of one criterion characteristic of conduct

disorder before age 10. Children with childhood-onset conduct disorder are usually male, and

frequently display physical aggression; they usually have disturbed peer relationships, and

may have had oppositional defiant disorder during early childhood. These children usually

meet the full criteria for conduct disorder before puberty, they are more likely to have

persistent conduct disorder, and are more likely to develop adult antisocial personality

disorder than those with the adolescent-onset type (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Adolescent-onset type is defined by the absence of conduct disorder prior to age 10.

Compared to individuals with the childhood-onset type, they are less likely to displayaggressive behaviors. These individuals tend to have more normal peer relationships, and are


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less likely to have persistent conduct disorders or to develop adult antisocial personality

disorder. The ratio of males to females is also lower than for the childhood-onset type

(American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Severity of symptoms

Conduct disorder is classified as "mild" if there are few, if any, conduct problems in excess of

those required for diagnosis and if these cause only minor harm to others (e.g., lying, truancy

and breaking parental rules). A classification of "moderate" is applied when the number of

conduct problems and effect on others are intermediate between "mild" and "severe". The

"severe" classification is justified when many conduct problems exist which are in excess of

those required for diagnosis, or the conduct problems cause considerable harm to others or

property (e.g., rape, assault, mugging, breaking and entering) (American Psychiatric

Association, 1994).

Co-morbidities and associated disorders

Children with conduct disorder are part of a population within which there are higher

incidences of a number of disorders than in a normal population. The literature abounds with

studies indicating the comorbid relationships between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Learning Difficulties, Mood

Disorders, Depressive symptoms, Anxiety Disorders, Communication Disorders, and

Tourettes Disorder. (American Psychiatric Association, 1994; Biederman, Newcorn, &

Sprich, 1991). A high level of co-morbidity (almost 95%) was found among 236 ADHD

children (aged 6-16 yrs) with conduct disorder, ODD and other related categories (Bird,

Gould, & Staghezza Jaramillo, 1994). In an 8 year follow-up study, Barklay and colleagues

(1990) found that 80% of the children with ADHD were still hyperactive as adolescents andthat 60% of them had developed Oppositional Defiant or Conduct Disorder.

Prevalence of Conduct Disorder.

According to research cited in Phelps & McClintock (1994), 6% of children in the United

States may have conduct disorder. The incidence of the disorder is thought to vary

demographically, with some areas being worse than others. For example, in a New York

sample, 12% had moderate level conduct disorder and 4% had severe conduct disorder. Since

prevalence estimates are based primarily upon referral rates, and since many children and

adolescents are never referred for mental health services, the actual incidences may well be

higher (Phelps & McClintock, 1994)

Other Useful Links regarding Conduct Disorder

Symptoms of Conduct Disordero This page is dedicated to the varioussymptoms of conduct disorder

Course of Conduct Disordero The onset of conduct disorder may occur as early as age 5 or 6, but more

usually occurs in late childhood or early adolescence, learn more about the

course of conduct disorder

Causes of Conduct Disordero Read more about the variouscauses of conduct disorder, including, biological,

family, genetic, neurological, parent related, and school factors.
http://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/overview.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/overview.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/overview.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/course.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/course.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/causes.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/causes.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/causes.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/causes.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/course.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/overview.html


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Treatment of Conduct Disordero Learn more about the varioustreatment options for conduct disorderincluding

family intervention, education, and child training
http://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/treatment.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/treatment.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/treatment.htmlhttp://cannontherapy.com/conduct_disorder/treatment.html

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