Definition and Diagnosis of Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder (CD) is a behavioral and emotional disorder of childhood and adolescence. Children with conduct disorder act inappropriately, infringe on the rights of others, and violate the behavioral expectations of others.

Conduct Disorder is defined as a repetitive behavioral pattern of violating the rights of others or societal norms. Three of the following criteria, or symptoms, are required over the previous 12 months for a diagnosis of Conduct Disorder (one of the three must have occurred in the past six months):

• bullies, threatens, or intimidates others
• picks fights
• has used a dangerous weapon
• has been physically cruel to people
• has been physically cruel to animals
• has stolen while confronting a victim (for example, mugging or extortion)
• has forced someone into sexual activity
• has deliberately set a fire with the intention of causing damage
• has deliberately destroyed property of others
• has broken into someone else's house or car
• frequently lies to get something or to avoid obligations
• has stolen without confronting a victim or breaking and entering (e.g., shoplifting or forgery)
• stays out at night; breaks curfew (beginning before 13 years of age)
• has run away from home overnight at least twice (or once for a lengthy period)
• is often truant from school (beginning before 13 years of age)

Diagnosis

Conduct Disorder is diagnosed and treated by a number of social workers, school counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Genuine diagnosis may require psychiatric expertise to rule out such conditions as bipolar disorder or ADHD. A comprehensive evaluation of the child should ideally include interviews with the child and parents, a full social and medical history, a cognitive evaluation, and a psychiatric exam. One or more clinical inventories or scales may be used to assess the child for conduct disorder-including the Youth Self-Report, the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS), Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). The tests are verbal and/or written and are administered in both hospital and outpatient settings.

continue: Treatment of Conduct Disorder

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Reviewed: 04/2006