Conduct Disorder

Definition:

Children with Conduct Disorder would exhibit a range of problematic behaviors; these may include aggression towards other people and serious defiance of rules, laws and behaviors that are considered to be socially normal or appropriate.  It is thought that there are many causes of Conduct Disorder inlcuding brain damage, child abuse, school failure, traumatic

experiences and genetic susceptibility.  Children with Conduct Disorder are often viewed as bad or as a delinquent, but not as mentally ill.
 

Conduct Disorder is a more serious childhood psychiatric disorder than Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).  Conduct Disorder is less common that ODD, but it is more severe and is more disruptive to the child.  Furthermore, Conduct Disorder is a lot more problematic to treat.  It is estimated that 6-10% of boys and 2-9% of girls have this disorder.  Children with Conduct Disorder seriously misbehave with aggressive or non-aggressive behaviors against people, animals or property.