Definition
Children with conduct disorder repeatedly violate the personal or property rights of others and the basic expectations of society. A diagnosis of conduct disorder is likely when symptoms continue for 6 months or longer. Conduct disorder is known as a “disruptive behavior disorder” because of its impact on children and their families, neighbors, and schools. Another disruptive behavior disorder, called oppositional defiant disorder, may be a precursor of conduct disorder. A child is diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder when he or she shows signs of being hostile and defiant for at least 6 months. Oppositional defiant disorder may start as early as the preschool years, while conduct disorder generally appears when children are older. Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are not co-occurring conditions.
Articles
- Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder
- Conduct Disorder Basics
- Drug Abuse and Conduct Disorder Linked to Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy
- Other Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Article Summaries
Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder
Children with conduct disorder repeatedly violate the personal or property rights of others and the basic expectations of society. A diagnosis of conduct disorder is likely when symptoms continue for 6 months or longer. Conduct disorder is known as a “disruptive behavior disorder” because of its impact on children and their families, neighbors, and schools. Another disruptive behavior disorder, called oppositional defiant disorder, may be a precursor of conduct disorder. A child is diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder when he or she shows signs of being hostile and defiant for at least 6 months. Oppositional defiant disorder may start as early as the preschool years, while conduct disorder generally appears when children are older. Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are not co-occurring conditions.
Conduct disorder is a disorder of childhood and adolescence that involves chronic behavior problems, such as: defiant, impulsive, or antisocial behavior, drug use, criminal activity. Causes: Conduct disorder has been associated with: Child abuse, family conflicts, genetic defects, parental drug addiction or alcoholism, poverty.
Drug Abuse and Conduct Disorder Linked to Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy
Researchers at Columbia University in New York City have found new evidence that children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are at much greater risk than other children for drug abuse and conduct disorder. The findings reinforce those of other studies spanning more than 25 years that have shown similar problems associated with prenatal exposure to smoke in children ranging from toddlers through teens. The study also revealed marked gender differences, with girls at significantly increased risk for drug abuse and boys at significantly increased risk for conduct disorder. The investigators interviewed 147 mother-child pairs 3 times over 10 years, with the children ranging from ages 6 to 23 at the start of the study. Both mothers and children were interviewed on entry into the study, again 2 years after the initial interview, and, finally, about 10 years after the initial interview. Because the researchers followed the children through either adolescence or young adulthood-something few studies have done before-they were able to collect data about whether and when the children began to abuse drugs, says Dr. Myrna Weissman, the study’s principal investigator.
Other Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Disruptive disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, are characterized by antisocial behavior and, as such, seem to be a collection of behaviors rather than a coherent pattern of mental dysfunction. These behaviors are also frequently found in children who suffer from attention-deficit/hyper-activity disorder, another disruptive disorder, which is discussed separately in this chapter. Children who develop the more serious conduct disorders often show signs of these disorders at an earlier age. Although it is common for a very young children to snatch something they want from another child, this kind of behavior may herald a more generally aggressive behavior and be the first sign of an emerging oppositional defiant or conduct disorder if it occurs by the ages of 4 or 5 and later. However, not every oppositional defiant child develops conduct disorder, and the difficult behaviors associated with these conditions often remit.