Conduct disorder is an ongoing pattern of behavior marked by emotional and behavioral problems.
Children with conduct disorder behave in angry, aggressive, argumentative, and disruptive ways.
Conduct disorder in children goes beyond bad behavior.
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It’s estimated that around 3% of school-aged children have conduct disorder.
It is more common in boys than in girls.
It’s important for kids with conduct disorder to get professional treatment.
Recognizing the early warning signs can help you take appropriate action.
Symptoms
Conduct disorder extends beyond normalteenage rebellion.
Psychological testing and other assessment tools may also be used to evaluate the child.
Causes
Researchers arent exactly sure why some children develop conduct disorder.
A variety of biological, psychological, and social factors are likely involved.
Quite often, those factors overlap.
Without effective treatment, oppositional defiant disorder may progress into conduct disorder as a child ages.
Common Comorbid Conditions
Many children with conduct disorder have other mental health issues or cognitive impairments.
These can include:
Children with conduct disorder may be more likely to developantisocial personality disorderlater in life.
Types
There are three subtypes types of conduct disorder.
These subtypes are distinguished by the age at which symptoms first appear.
Individuals with limited prosocial emotions are characterized by callousness and a lack of remorse andempathy.
They are unconcerned about their performance at school or work and have shallow emotions.
When present, their emotional expressions may be used to manipulate others.
This can lead to less conflict and help children better regulate their behavior.
Fairchild G, Hawes D, Frick P et al.Conduct disorder.Nature Reviews Disease Primers.
2019;5(1).
doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0095-y
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th edition.
2013;23(1):24-29. doi:10.1016/j.paed.2012.09.007
