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Conduct Disorder is also known as “Disruptive Behavior Disorder” for good reason. Someone with conduct disorder has the ability to disrupt any environment he or she is in, and the disorder has a great impact on families, neighborhoods and schools.
Conduct disorder is difficult to define. It refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, young people with this disorder are often viewed as “bad” or “troublemakers” instead of being seen as having a mental health problem.
Statistics and Trends
The exact number of youth affected by conduct disorder is not known, but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is probably between 1 and 4 percent of 9-to-17-year-olds in the United States. The disorder seems to be more common in boys than girls.
Another disorder called Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is thought to be a precursor of conduct disorder. In other words, some people who exhibit signs of ODD as a young child go on to develop conduct disorder when they get older. Although conduct disorder usually develops and is diagnosed in older children, some research has shown that some infants who appear especially fussy, are victims of neglect or abuse, or are born into poverty, among other factors, are more likely to develop a conduct disorder.
The exact cause of conduct disorder is unknown, but some of the factors that might contribute to the development of the disorder are brain damage, child abuse, genetic or biological factors, school failure and other traumatic life experiences.
Signs and Symptoms
Young people with conduct disorder have a lot of difficulty following rules and behaving in an acceptable way. They show a pattern of violating personal or property rights of others for a six month period or longer.
Symptoms of conduct disorder include:
- Aggressive behavior
- Causing harm to other people or animals
- Lying
- Stealing
- Destruction of property (vandalism)
- Serious violations of rules at school or home (runs away from home or skips school)
- Early substance abuse
- Early sexual activity
Diagnosis and Treatment
Children and teens exhibiting any of the behaviors associated with conduct disorder should receive a comprehensive medical evaluation by a professional. They may also be dealing with other conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, ADHD, impulse problems or depression. Treatment, including medication, for these conditions may be needed.
Treating conduct disorder usually requires behavior therapy and psychotherapy to help a young person learn to express and control anger. Parent training in management techniques may also be helpful. Treatment for conduct disorder is a long-term process and can be challenging.
What Parents Can Do
Children and teens with conduct disorder often experience higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, injuries, trouble with the law, problems in school, trouble making friends, and sexually transmitted diseases. In order to try to avoid these ongoing problems, families need to seek help early. Without treatment these problems will most likely continue into adulthood. Despite the difficulty in treating this disorder, the earlier it is identified and treated the better the chance for success.
Parents should pay careful attention to the signs, talk with a mental health professional, and get as much accurate information about the disorder as possible. One source of information is http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov. This government organization offers free and easy to read fact sheets on a variety of children’s mental health disorders.
Sources
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
www.aacap.org
May 9th, 2012 by April Weir. Posted in Conduct Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Troubled Teen Diagnoses
Part of childhood and adolescence is testing boundaries and sometimes that means defying parents or other adults. All children will disobey or refuse to follow directions sometimes. However, in some youth, there is a pattern of disobedience. These youth can be diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
ODD is defined as a pattern of disobedient, hostile and defiant behavior toward authority figures. So how can you tell if your teen is simply having an “off day” or if they are suffering from ODD? With ODD, the uncooperative behavior is frequent and consistent. It stands out when compared to peers and it greatly affects life at home and at school.
Statistics and Trends
Experts disagree on the number of children affected by ODD, but it is probably somewhere between 10% and 20% of school-age children.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder can co-exist with other disorders, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. Some of these disorders can cause similar behavior problems.
Some children with ODD will go on to develop a conduct disorder later in life. Although ODD can be diagnosed as early as preschool, conduct disorder generally shows up in older children, teens and adults. Some signs and symptoms of the two disorders are similar.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of ODD usually appear before the age of eight, and more boys are affected than girls. Although the cause of the disorder is unknown, some combination of genetic and environmental factors are probably involved. Symptoms can usually be observed in more than one setting, for example at school and at home. Some symptoms of ODD are:
- Loses temper easily and frequently
- Argues with adults and does not follow their requests
- Deliberate attempts to annoy or upset others
- Blames own mistakes on others
- Irritable and easily annoyed by others
- Talking in a mean or hateful way
- Angry and resentful of others
- Seeks revenge
- Has few friends
- Frequently in trouble at school
Diagnosis and Treatment
ODD is most often diagnosed in young children. In order for a youth to be diagnosed with ODD, the pattern of defiant behavior must have lasted at least six months.
A comprehensive evaluation by a medical or mental health professional is necessary. A professional can determine if a teen’s symptoms reflect more than just normal misbehavior. They will take into account if there are any other conditions that need to be treated as well.
What Parents Can Do
- Be consistent and fair with rules and consequences.
- Model appropriate behaviors.
- Praise your child when he/she cooperates.
- Try not to have confrontations or argue with your child.
- Model taking “time outs’ and encourage your child to use this technique
Treatment for Oppositional Defiant Disorder can include parent training, individual or family therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy and social skills training. Medication might be used in the cases where ADHD or Depression is also present.
Sources
www.aacap.org
www.nlm.nih.gov
May 9th, 2012 by April Weir. Posted in Conduct Disorders, Defiant Teens, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Troubled Teen Diagnoses
No parent of a teenager can escape the occasional friendly fire of their child’s bad attitude. For most young people (and to the chagrin of parents everywhere), rebellious, defiant behavior is as normal as acne or peer pressure. However, if this behavior is new or sudden, becomes more serious or entrenched, or if it seems to be going on longer than a normal phase of adolescence, your teen may be edging into ODD territory.
ODD is Oppositional Defiant Disorder, a serious behavioral condition for teenagers that can derail family relationships and school performance. Knowing the signs of ODD is a useful start in determining if your child may be headed for trouble:
- Hostility, including with teachers, parents, family, and friends
- Pessimistic feelings, such as always taking a negative view (“I’ll never learn how to do this.”)
- Defiance, such as disregard for rules and authority
- Being argumentative, including critical and nit-picky behavior
- Bullying or other aggressive tendencies
- Anger or tantrums, including seemingly unprovoked angry outbursts and becoming easily frustrated
- Resentful, which can include jealousy or envy of what others have
- Unusually petty behaviors, such as stinginess or tattling
ODD is seen as a constellation of symptoms and behaviors, and not every teenager with ODD will display all of these signs. The disorder usually appears between ages 6 and 14, with one or two signs showing up at home, leaking out later to public places or in school. Students with ODD are a constant source of classroom disruption, so this defiant behavior can jeopardize the teen’s chances at academic success in the future, not to mention relationships with peers, teachers, and family.
Unfortunately, ODD rarely goes away on its own, and it usually gets worse over time. But virtually every ODD case can be treated; options include behavior modification, talk therapy, medications, and programs outside the home, including outdoor and wilderness programs. Most therapists will recommend a combination of these options.
A teenager whose ODD persists despite treatment may have a more serious condition called Conduct Disorder (CD), which can lead to criminal behavior, bullying, and other forms of violence.
Further reading:
To learn more, including tips for parents, visit the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry’s page on ODD.
February 6th, 2011 by Brad Smith. Posted in Bad Attitude, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
