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Conduct Disorder - Conduct Disorder Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most difficult and intractable mental health problems in children and adolescents. Conduct disorder is the most serious psychiatric disorder in childhood and adolescence. CD involves a number of problematic behaviors, including oppositional and defiant behaviors and antisocial activities. Children with conduct disorder repeatedly violate the personal or property rights of others and the basic expectations of society. They are often viewed by other children, adults and social agencies as "bad" or delinquent, rather than mentally ill. Many factors may contribute to a child developing conduct disorder, including brain damage, child abuse, genetic vulnerability, school failure, and traumatic life experiences
Symptoms of Conduct Disorder
Symptoms of conduct disorder include:
- Aggressive behavior that harms or threatens other people or animals;
- Destructive behavior that damages or destroys property;
- Lying or theft;
- Truancy or other serious violations of rules;
- Early tobacco, alcohol, and substance use and abuse; and
- Precocious sexual activity.
Children with conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder also may experience:
- Higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide;
- Academic difficulties;
- Poor relationships with peers or adults;
- Sexually transmitted diseases;
- Difficulty staying in adoptive, foster, or group homes; and
- Higher rates of injuries, school expulsions, and problems with the law.
Causes of Conduct Disorders
Children or adolescents with conduct disorder may exhibit some of the following behaviors:
- Bullies, threatens or intimidates others
- Often initiates physical fights
- Has used a weapon that could cause serious physical harm to others (e.g. a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife or gun)
- Is physically cruel to people or animals
- Steals from a victim while confronting them (e.g. assault)
- Forces someone into sexual activity
Treatment of Conduct Disorder
Treatment of children with conduct disorder can be complex and challenging. Treatment can be provided in a variety of different settings depending on the severity of the behaviors. TheTreatment of Conduct Disorder are
- Behavior therapy and psychotherapy are usually necessary to help the child appropriately express and control anger.
- Community-based services that focus on the young person within the context of family and community influences.
- Lithium and methylphenidate reduced aggressiveness in one set of studies; however, in subsequent follow-up research, the effectiveness of lithium could not be replicated.
- Carbamazepine also has been demonstrated to be effective in treating aggressive behavior. Carbamazepine was effective in a pilot study; however, multiple significant adverse effects occurred.
- Accurate assessment and appropriate, individualized treatment will assure that all children are equipped to navigate the developmental milestones of childhood and adolescence and make a successful adaptation to adulthood
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