Understanding Conduct Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment in Children

Understanding Conduct Disorder in Children

Conduct disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents. Children with this disorder have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way.

Symptoms of Conduct Disorder

Some signs that a child may have conduct disorder include:

• Aggression towards people and animals
• Destruction of property
• Deceitfulness
• Theft
• Serious rule violations

To be diagnosed with conduct disorder, these behavioral problems must cause significant impairment in the child's social, academic, or occupational functioning. These behaviors go beyond normal childhood mischief and rebelliousness.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact causes of conduct disorder are not fully understood, but likely involve a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors including:

• Genetics and temperament
• Abnormal brain structure and function
• Poor parenting and supervision
• Negative peer influences
• Poverty and neighborhood violence

Certain factors may increase a child's risk for developing conduct disorder such as a family history of behavior problems or substance abuse. Child abuse and neglect can also increase risk.

Assessing for Conduct Disorder

If you are concerned that your child may have conduct disorder, the first step is to talk to your pediatrician, school counselor, or mental health professional. They can help determine if your child's behavior warrants further evaluation by a child psychologist or psychiatrist.

Conduct Disorder Rating Scales

As part of an evaluation, a mental health professional may have parents, teachers, and the child complete one or more rating scales such as:

• The Conduct Disorder Scale
• The Antisocial Behavior Checklist
• The Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale

These scales help quantify and categorize types of behaviors so that an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Looking for Patterns of Behavior

The mental health professional will also conduct a clinical interview asking detailed questions about the child's behaviors and development to gain insight into any patterns. Information is gathered from multiple sources including parents, teachers, coaches, and the child.

Considering Other Conditions

It's important to consider whether behaviors may be better explained by other emotional or neurological conditions such as depression, PTSD, or ADHD before making a conduct disorder diagnosis.

Categorizing Severity

If criteria are met for a diagnosis, the mental health professional will categorize conduct disorder based on severity including:

• Mild: Few behavior problems beyond those required to make the diagnosis
• Moderate: Significant behavior problems
• Severe: Behavior causing considerable harm to others

More severe conduct disorder generally begins at an earlier age.

Treating Conduct Disorder

While concerning and disruptive, the good news is that early and consistent intervention can make a big difference for children with conduct disorder.

Psychotherapy

Counseling sessions aim to reinforce positive behaviors, build problem-solving skills, and establish consistency through approaches like:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Family therapy
• Anger management

Building a strong relationship with a mental health counselor can provide much needed support.

School and Community Supports

Accommodations and services through an IEP at school as well as structured activities such as sports teams that limit opportunities for delinquent behavior may be helpful. Community mentors can also serve as role models.

Medication

While not a replacement for therapy, medication may help control symptoms of aggression, impulsivity and irritability. Stimulants and antipsychotics may be prescribed but should be closely monitored by doctors and mental health professionals.

With compassion, consistency and time, children with conduct disorder can learn to manage their behaviors and navigate challenges. If you have concerns about your child, schedule an evaluation and access support resources both in and out of school as early as possible.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.