Childhood Conduct Disorder Essay

Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) form a cluster of childhood disorders considered to be “disruptive behavior disorders” (American Psychiatric Association, 2004). Although most violent adolescents have more than one mental disorder and they may have internalizing disorders, for example depression or substance abuse, there appear to be increasingly higher rates of physical aggression found in these adolescents who experience disruptive behavior disorders than for those with other mental disorders. The fact that violent juvenile offenders are more likely to have these diagnoses is not surprising, because impulsive and/or aggressive behaviors are part of their diagnostic criteria. Additionally, there is relatively high co-morbidity with substance abuse disorders, which are also associated with juvenile violence (Moeller, 2001). Individuals with conduct disorder have the following features but this list is not inclusive for example they may have little empathy and little concern for the feelings, wishes, and wellbeing of others, respond with aggression, may be callous and lack appropriate feelings of guilt re remorse, self-esteem may be low despite a projected

In order for someone to be diagnosed with Conduct Disorder, they must meet all the criteria A through C, and Criteria A clearly states that a client must have experience 3 of the 15 statements listed in the DSM-V, within the last 12 months. The behaviors include aggression toward people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness and stealing, and other serious violations of rules. Eddies actions do not fit into this criteria since he is not aggressive or bullying classmates or friends, and although his parents have stated that he “demolished” the kitchen or living room, it is clear he is not violent or prone to lying and stealing. The only blatant disregard for rules that could be considered dangerous was when Eddie ran out of the house and wandered into the street until someone returned him home. However, that occurred when he was four years old, not in the last 12 months. Eddie does not fit into Criteria A due to a lack of violent nature. Criteria B states that the individuals behaviors cause a significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning, however, since Eddies behaviors do not fit into Criteria A, this does not apply. Lastly, Criteria C states that if the client is 18 years or older, they do not meet the criteria for antisocial personality disorder, which also doesn’t apply to Eddie. It is clear after looking through all Criteria A-C, Eddie does not have conduct disorder.

Lee N. Robbins, PhD., was among the first to publish a large scale research study on adults who as children, showed deviant behavior. Her findings revealed that the majority of adults with antisocial behavior also displayed symptoms relating to conduct disorder as children. Additionally, she concluded that about one third of those with conduct disorder will be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as adults (Kjelsberg, 2006).

These patterns last for at least 6 months (APA, 2013). ODD has also been associated with excessive arguing, cognitive and social deficits, and significant adult–child and child–peer interaction problems. Youth with ODD demonstrate high rates of aggressive and antisocial behaviors, with a subset displaying callousness and psychopathic traits, including a lack of guilt, empathy, and remorse. It is important to note the difference between ODD and CD (conduct disorder). The defining characteristic of oppositional defiant disorder is a fight against being controlled. For a child like this, being controlled feels like drowning. CD is used to describe an older child or adolescent who has moved into a pattern of violating the rights of others through intimidation or aggression. This could be against people or animals, and include more serious violations such as theft and vandalism.. The DSM-5, a diagnostic handbook used by mental health professionals, describes these individuals as having “a callous and unemotional interpersonal style.” (Colins & Andershed, 2015). These adolescents lack empathy. Children with CD and callous–unemotional (CU) traits present with patterns of persistent and violent antisocial behaviour which include low empathy and guilt and shallow affect. Currently, CU is considered a subtype for conduct disorder, according to the

Conduct disorder (CD) represents one of the most disruptive behavior disorders of childhood.(1) CD continuos to be the predominant juvenile disorder seen in mental health and community clinics, and is of great concern because of its high degree of impairment and poor diagnosis. (2) It is characterized by a persistent and repetitive pattern of aggression, non-complaint, intrusive, and poorly self controlled behaviors that violate either rights of others or norms of society. These behaviors have a significant impact on the daily functioning of the child or adolescents and on their parents. (3,4). The prevalence of CD varied widely between as low as 1 % to as high as 16 % among children and adolescents. (5) These disparities are more likely due

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), opposition defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) are three distinct disorders based upon their respective diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5. If ODD and CD were mild forms of ASPD, then there would need to be causal relationship between the childhood manifestations of ODD and CD and the adult manifestation of ASPD. There is evidence of comorbidity between ODD and CD, and also evidence to suggest that children diagnosed with these disorders may go on to develop ASPD later in life; however, correlation does not equal causation. The three disorders have subtle but important differences in their associated behaviors, underlying causes, treatment outcomes, and neurological signs.

Conduct Disorder is a severe mental health problem for several reasons. First, it involves aggression, criminal behavior, and it is associated with social, emotional, and academic problems. For example, CD often leads a child to be rejected by his or her peers and to be suspended or expelled from school (Frick, 2016). Children and adolescence with CD have problems with mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, health concerns, legal problems, attaining education, and social issues in adolescence and adulthood. Given the seriousness of CD, a significant amount of research has been put forth to shed light on the causes of CD. This research has discovered numerous factors that can place a child at risk for CD. These risk factors include neurochemical and autonomic irregularities, neurocognitive deficits, processing of social information, temperamental and personality predispositions. Additional, risk factors include prenatal exposure to toxins, ineffective discipline, association with deviant peers, and exposure to violence(Justin et al. 2013).

The author currently works with adolescents in a level 14, locked down group home facility. Her experience has been working with clients with various mental illnesses and the majority of the population display danger to self and danger to others behaviors. Many of her clients display conduct disorders as a result of their severe neglect and abuse they suffered as a child. Her clients who have Conduct Disorders do not respect authority, have little regard for others, and breaks major rules; they also exhibit aggressive behaviors that threaten physical

Family level risk factors are parental rejection and neglect. Inconsistent child-rearing practices or punitive discipline can also play a part. Physical and sexual abuse may cause the onset of conduct disorder. Lack of supervision, multiple changes in caregivers, and institutional learning also may lead to the development of conduct disorder. Large family sizes as well as parental crime records are high risk factors for conduct disorder. Conduct disorder can develop due to family psychopathology, for example substance-related disorders. The community can play a part in the development of conduct disorder too and includes peer rejection or a delinquent peer group. Conduct disorder can develop by neighborhood exposure to violence too. Community and family risk factors affect individuals who have the childhood-onset type of conduct

Ann Easterbrooks. Xudong Zhao. and Karlen Lyons-Ruth (2012) Childhood Maltreatment and Prospectively Observed Quality of Early Care as Predictors of Antisocial Personality Disorder Features, Catherine Tuvblad, Jurgita Narusyte, Martin Grann, Jerzy Sarnecki, and Paul Lichtenstein (2011) The Genetic and Environmental Etiology of Antisocial Behavior from Childhood to Emerging Adulthood, and Kimberly B. Werner, Lauren R. Few, and Kathleen K. Bucholz (2015) Epidemiology, Comorbidity, and Behavioral Genetics of Antisocial Personality Disorder and Psychopathy, we will better understand the current data available about ASPD. This paper will discuss in further detail the epidemiology and etiology of the often misunderstood ASPD.

The diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder mainly comes as a result of observing certain characteristics of individuals’ behaviors. For instance, children who demonstrate disrespect towards authorities in their surroundings are usually diagnosed with the disorder. It is an exceptionally prevalent psychiatric disorder that has detrimental repercussions for slightly over three per cent of children and adolescents (Walter Matthys, 2012). According to the article, individuals suffering from Oppositional Defiant Disorder are mainly oppositional, antisocial and aggressive (Walter Matthys, 2012).

My hypothesis on conduct disorder in children can lead to criminal activity in adulthood. The research that was conducted from this question was that of Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Department of Psychology. Sampson and Laub (1997) discussed conduct disorder as not being a single cause of adult criminal behavior, but instead the start to what they termed as a life of “cumulative disadvantage”. The conduct disorder might indeed be the initial cause of problems, but may be replaced by the effects of disapproving, negative reactions from others.

Conduct disorder in childhood and adult antisocial personality disorder: Antisocial personality disorder and conduct use disorder is seen in most individuals suffering from alcohol and other substance disorders hence it is imperative to ascertain this diagnosis

Everyday we are hearing more and more about a child or teen that has committed some horrible act. On Tuesday April 27, 2004 a twelve-year-old Georgia boy was arrested for allegedly using “his hands to strangle a third grader who disappeared while riding her bicycle”(McLaughlin, 2004). In February, a twelve-year-old girl was beaten to unconsciousness by a group of adolescents and young adults while at a birthday party in Baltimore. The question we must ask ourselves is where are the parents? Sadly, in the case of the Baltimore girl, one of the young adults was the parent of one of the children. How do children learn that violent and socially deviant behavior is acceptable? Both of these scenarios

Overt conduct disorder violate social rules and includes a wide variety of antisocial behaviors such as aggression, theft, vandalism, firesetting, lying, truancy, and running away. It interferes with everyday functioning at home and school. Students with overt conduct disorder “perform harmful behaviors at a much higher rate and at a much later age than normally developing student” (Kauffman 2005).