What is Conduct Disorder?Conduct Disorder is a group of behavioral and emotional problems that sometimes begins in childhood,often during the preschool years. These problems can also develop from years of untreated emotional and behavioral issues like Oppositional Defiant Disorder. What are the Causes of Conduct Disorder? Causes contributing to this problem include the following: a) early maternal rejection b) early institutionalization c) child abuse d) violence in the home e) mental illness in parent/parents f) marital discord in parents and domestic violence g) economic problems in the home h) brain damage i) post traumatic stress disorder What are the Symptoms of this Disorder? Symptoms include the following: a) episodes of aggression against people, both children and adults b) episodes of aggression against animals, which include abuse causing death of animals c) frequent initiation of physical fights d) use of weapons to cause serious injury to others e) stealing, shoplifting f) deliberate destruction of others' property g) deliberate fire setting with intention of causing damage h) truancy from school i) running away from home j) alcohol and drug abuse k) gang violence Children and adolescents who exhibit several of the above symptoms should be given a professional examination to determine the seriousness of their behavioral issues. Without early intervention, young people with this tendency towards criminal activities become repeat offenders, hardened to the instruments of law. What is the Difference Between Conduct Disorder and ODD? Because there is such a huge overlap between these two disorders, it is often difficult at the beginning to distinguish between them. However, two areas a trained therapist will consider is the child's or the teen's treatment of people and animals. Physical assaults against others and physical aggression against animals (often causing pain and death to animals) are two of the mostprominent indications of something more serious than ODD. Another area a therapist will look at is legal problems, whether these are recurrent issues or one-time events. Common hallmarks of this Disorder include repeated episodes of stealing, fire setting, breaking into cars and houses. The more often and serious the offenses, the stronger the indication of Conduct Disorder. Watch this video for more differences between the two disorders. Complications of Conduct Disorder Many children and adolescents with this Disorder also present with coexisting conditions like Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Substance Abuse and Negative Beliefs. These complications can be treated, but do involve a great deal of cooperation from both child and family, effort and time. Treatment of This Disorder This disorder requires a comprehensive treatment plan from a specially trained child and adolescent psychiatrist. Interaction with school and family is needed as well in order for treatment to be sustained. Therapy includes work to build new repertoires of thought and responses in the child. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Psychotherapy help the child and adolescent deal with issues of anger and aggression. Recent studies show that involving teens in something as simple as daily family dinner can do much to change their delinquent tendencies and behavior. Even children with a genetic disposition to violence can be moderated by a positive social environment. If the child has learning disabilities, his school will be called upon to provide special education. Medication is sometimes used to help those who lack focus and attention or suffer from depression.
Disclaimer: The above information is meant only to inform and should never displace professional consultation.
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