Conduct Disorder

About Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in children and adolescents in which the basic rights of others or major age appropriate social norms or rules are violated. DSM-5 groups the behaviors into four categories: aggression to people and animals, such as bullying, fighting or cruelty; destruction of property, including fire setting; deceitfulness or theft; and serious violations of rules, such as staying out at night despite parental prohibitions, running away or truancy. A childhood onset type, with at least one symptom before age 10, and an adolescent onset type are distinguished, and childhood onset is associated with more persistent problems. A specifier with limited prosocial emotions identifies young people who show callous and unemotional traits, such as lack of remorse or empathy. The disorder is diagnosed more often in boys and often co occurs with ADHD, learning difficulties, depression and substance use. Contributing factors include genetic and temperamental influences, harsh or inconsistent parenting, abuse, peer influences and neighborhood adversity. Some young people with early onset conduct disorder go on to develop antisocial personality disorder in adulthood. Evidence based interventions include parent management training, multisystemic therapy that works with family, school and community, functional family therapy and cognitive behavioral problem solving skills training.