What is conduct disorder?
Conduct disorder is a set of antisocial behaviors that manifest in childhood or adolescence. Conduct disorder refers to a variety of behavioral and emotional problems in youth. A child or young adult may show disturbing and violent behavior patterns and difficulty following rules. It may be accompanied by other mental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder.
How many types of conduct disorder are there?
There are three different types of mental disorders that are classified by the age at which the first symptoms of the disorder begin to appear.
- Childhood onset- Occurs when signs begin to manifest before the child is 10 years old.
- Adolescent onset – Occurs during adolescence.
- Onset unspecified- When the age at which the conduct disorder manifests itself is unknown.
Conduct disorder is a set of antisocial behaviors that manifest in childhood or adolescence.
What are the symptoms of conduct disorder?
The symptoms of conduct disorder are divided into four categories:
- Aggressive behavior: bullying and fighting.
- Destructive behavior: vandalism.
- Deceptive behavior: lying, trespassing, and stealing.
- Rule breaking: Truancy and running away from home.
Other signs of conduct disorder are drug and alcohol use, sexual initiation at a very young age, and low self-esteem.
What causes conduct disorder?
The mental disorder is caused by genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors have been linked to damage in the frontal lobe of the brain. This part of the brain regulates important cognitive skills, such as problem solving, memory and also represents personality. Environmental factors associated with conduct disorder may include child abuse, dysfunctional family, drug or alcohol addicted parents, and children from poor backgrounds.
How is conduct disorder diagnosed?
A child should be examined by an experienced mental health professional who will ask questions about the child’s behavior. The child must show at least three of the behaviors associated with conduct disorder in order to be evaluated. The disorders must also be linked to the child’s behavior at school and socially.
How is conduct disorder treated?
If a child is diagnosed with conduct disorder and comes from a broken home, a foster home will be found for the child. If the mental illness is not the result of abuse, the child will have behavioral therapy with a psychiatrist to learn how to talk and how to express emotions. Medication may be prescribed if the disorder exists along with another condition such as ADHD. Treatment is usually long term.