Children's
Mental Health
Conduct Disorders
What
are Conduct Disorders?
Conduct disorders are a complicated group of behavioral and emotional
problems in young people. Children and adolescents with these disorders
have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially
acceptable manner. They are often viewed as "bad" or
delinquent, rather than mentally ill.
Warning Signs of Conduct Disorders
Children may:
- lie.
- steal.
- destroy
property.
- misbehave
sexually.
- express their
anger inappropriately.
- often break
rules or laws.
- show physical
and verbal aggressive behavior with other children and/or to adults.
Possible
Causes of Conduct Disorders
Many factors may lead to a child developing conduct disorders,
including brain damage, child abuse, defects in mental and/or emotional
age-development, school failure, and negative family and/or school
experiences. The child's "bad" behavior causes a negative
reaction from others, which causes the child to behave even worse.
Importance of
Early Detection and Treatment
According to research, the future of children with conduct disorders
tends to be very unsettled if they and their families do not receive
early, ongoing and comprehensive treatment. Without treatment, these
young people often are unable to adapt to the demands of adulthood and
continue to have problems with relationships and employment. They
generally break laws or behave antisocially.
Treatment
Treatment is difficult because the causes of the illness are complex
and each situation is unique. Also the child's uncooperative attitude,
fear, and distrust of adults adds to the challenge.
After examining the child, a child and adolescent psychiatrist uses information from other medical specialists, as well as from the child’s family and teachers to understand the causes of the disorder and to determine a treatment plan.
Behavior therapy and psychotherapy are usually necessary to help the child appropriately express and control anger. Remedial education may also be needed if learning disabilities are present. Treatment may also include medication in some children; such as, those with difficulty paying attention and controlling movement or those who have an associated depression.
Treatment is normally long-term since establishing new attitudes and behavior patterns take time. Parents also may need expert assistance in handling special management and educational programs both at home and in school. However, treatment gives a good chance for considerable improvement in present behavior and hope for a successful future.
Compiled from: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fact Sheet No. 33 (10/92)
This publication
is generously supported by a grant from the William H. Donner
Foundation and Eli Lilly and Company.
Copyright 1996