Conduct Disorder Analysis

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

Today, as many as 3.5% of children in the United States are being diagnosed with Conduct Disorders some as early as age three (Perou, et al., 2013). Research has shown that CD is a behavior that predicts Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms at age six (Harvey and Metcalfe, 2013).

The overlap can already be seen just reviewing the criteria; however, ASPD is distinct because of the lack of remorse and empathy for others. For example, they don’t care about the feelings of others and would be willing to remove others from their path if they stood in their way, whether that means through murder or claiming sexual assault. They wouldn’t feel remorse for removing those people from their paths because people, who exhibit antisocial personality disorder, value winning more than people or breaking the law(Stout, 2005). This is why it is important to stop conduct disorder in it’s tracks—to help diminish the amount of people who develop ASPD and continue crime into

As children grow from adolescence to being an adult, an absence of positive developmental traits is directly linked to one’s behavior. As stated by the American Psychiatric Association, "When individuals with conduct disorder reach adulthood, symptoms of aggression, property destruction, deceitfulness, and rule violation, including violence against co-workers, partners, and children, may be exhibited in the workplace and the home, such that antisocial personality disorder may be considered" (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Evidence indicates that genetic factors may play a role in development of disruptive behavior disorders (Hansell & Damour, 2005). A biological structure of an infant’s brain has preposition genes and chemical responses to develop into an adult (Perry, 2002). Disorders in lifespan development are not biologically set to occur (Dombeck, 2010). Issues’ dealing with environment, education, and way of life has made changes in developments, childhood behavior keeps a child on a continuum between normal and abnormal behavior (Hansell & Damour, 2005). Several disorders currently exist in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) because studies on children, adolescent, and young adult disorders evolved from DSM-II (Hansell & Damour, 2005).

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.

A father who beat his children into submission, a grandfather who once strangled a baby because it would not stop crying, and a brother who threw his eight month pregnant wife into a ditch and beat her (Black, 2013, p. 134-135). The Deases family is an extreme case of ASPD and psychopathy being transferred, not all families are like this because averagely there is that 16% chance, but individually some families have higher percentages than others, as was the case with the Deases. ASPD can also be influenced by: “bad parenting, defective genes, childhood trauma, poverty—are a few of the proposed causes […],” however, this disorder usually arises from an combination of different causes (Black, 2013, p. 132). The idea that children who are young and impressionable are more than likely going to pick up habits that their parents exhibit, even if those habits are poor ones (Black, 2013, p. 132).

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

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

Scientific research has shown that behavioral problems occurring in early childhood and adolescence have long been thought to be a risk factor for a future of depression, antisocial behavior, and even violence. Specifically, conduct disorder (CD) which is a complicated set of behavioral and emotional problems affecting nine percent of boys and two percent of girls is thought to be a precursor to all of the above conditions. CD is a disorder that develops over a long period of time; and children can carry the side effects of negative behaviors well into their adulthood.

Also, according to Rowe et al (2010), since Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms has been linked to early indictors of the child developing symptoms of Conduct Disorder (CD) in both gender, with the prevalence rate of one out of five boys and one out of ten girls will meet the criteria for both ODD and CD within the ages of nine years old to sixteen years old.

To meet a diagnosis for conduct disorder an individual must present a least three out of fifteen criteria within a twelve month span. For example, Criteria A implies that “a repetitive and persistent patterns of behavior in which the basic rights of others or age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated” such as acts of aggression toward people, animals, and property (APA, 2013). Criteria B state that “the disturbance in behavior that causes clinically significant impairment in social, social, academic, or occupational functioning” (APA, 2013).

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.

For a diagnosis, these behaviors must occur for at least a six-month period. Conduct disorder has a multifactorial etiology that includes biologic, psychosocial and familial factors. The different race have influenced Scott, “He also stated that he disliked his school, as he was the only "black" person there” Morgan, R. K. (1999). Therefor, him feeling difference makes him disliked school and also he add that he did not have to do much because just because he was “black” student was scared of him. Another variables that has have influenced Scott behaviors is Child Abuse and Neglect that he get from both parents.

According to Maddux and Winstead (2012), conduct disorder is defined as “A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates the rights of others or major age appropriate societal norms or rules are violated” (p.452). There are four behaviors that are included in the pattern, they include aggressive behavior that threatens harm to others, behavior that can result in property loss or damage, lying, deceit, thievery, and not following rules (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). Three repetitive pattern of behavior needs to have been current for at least a period of 12 months (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). Both oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are disorders in the DSM- IV-TR that focus on conduct problem behaviors (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). While oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder sound very similar, the main difference between is the length of time that the behaviors have lasted (Maddux &