Introduction: Conduct Disorder The hallmark of Conduct Disorder (CD) is an obvious and careless apathy for the rules, the rights, the emotions, and the personal territory of others. Aggression, deceitfulness, duress, and power over others are enjoyable to a child with CD. Children with CD pick fights, trespass, lie, cheat, steal, vandalize, display abusive behaviors, and, for older children, perpetrate unwanted sexual advances. The display of signs in younger children can be: ruthless bullying, lying for the purpose of lying, and stealing of useless things. Diagnosis: Jason Coleman of Conduct Disorder Jason Coleman meets the criteria for CD in DSM 4 TR: Axis 1, for CD with a specifier of 312.81 Childhood-onset type, severe; Axis II, …show more content…
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) does include some of the features of CD, i.e., disobedience and opposition to authority, but ODD does not have the continual arrangement of severe behaviors of violating the rights of others, or violating the norms of society (American Psychiatric Association, 2008). The ADHD child even though they do display excitable and troublesome behavior, that behavior does not in and of itself breach age-suitable societal patterns therefore, I ruled out ADHD (American Psychiatric Association, 2008) in Jason’s case. Although Jason is taking Ritalin it was more for his attention and concentration problems and not for CD because the behaviors escalated after his dose was increased. I don’t think that the head injury can be ruled out as a contributing factor to the symptoms that Jason is experiencing (Centre, I., 2005). Rule out mood disorder because Jason does not appear to meet the criteria for a mood disorder or major depression (American Psychiatric Association, …show more content…
A multimodality treatment program that will use all the known family and community resources is the best approach to treatment of conduct disorder (Kaplan, H. I., Sadock, B. J., & Grebb, J. A. 1991). Behavior therapy with a special emphasis on Individual Parent Management Training, problem-solving skills, group assertiveness training, Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Multisystemic Therapy, are Evidence Based Treatments (EBTs) shown to work well in treatment of CD (Eyberg, S., Nelson, M., & Boggs, S., 2008). Medications, such as, mood stabilizers, neuroleptics and stimulants with lithium being the most documented treatment, are also used in the treatment of CD (Geradin,
Sadock, B.J., & Sadock, V.A. (2007). Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Psychiatry (10th ed.) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Conduct Disorder (CD) appears to be linked with substance abuse disorders (SUD) among adolescents when compared to other mental disorders within this population. There is a strong correlation between childhood diagnosis of CD because of environmental and genetic factors and is more common among boys than girls when there is a positive parental history of SUD. Pagliaro & Pagliaro (2012) have indicated that a dual diagnosis involving CD may be mediated among adolescents with childhood A-D/HD by the factor of deviant peer affiliation and co-morbidity of CD or of ODD is at an increased risk for developing a peer-mediated SUD during adolescence.
Association, A. P. (2005). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th edition). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Kay, Jerald, MD, Leiberman, Jeffrey, MD, and Tasman, Allan, MD.. (1997). Psychiatry: Volume 1. pp. 702-719.
Conduct Disorder has been a part of the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manuel (DSM) since its original release date in 1994. Although, there is new information about the disorder that was previously unknown, Conduct Disorder is distinguished by a “repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate norms or rules are violated” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994.) This mild, moderate, or severe antisocial behavior begins to appear either in childhood, categorized as early-onset conduct disorder , or in adolescence after ten years of age, classified as adolescent-onset conduct disorder (Passamonti et al., 2010.) The criteria to meet to be diagnosed with this disorder are separated into four subgroups: aggressive conduct, nonaggressive conduct, deceitfulness or theft, and serious violations of the rules. Three or more incidents must be present in the past twelve months with at least one of the characteristics being present in the past six months. This disorder causes severe impairment of functioning across a variety of situations so it is important to keep in mind society and individual situations because this diagnosis may be “misapplied to individuals in settings where patterns of undesirable behavior are sometimes viewed as protective” (American Psychiatric Association, 1994.) For example, a patient that has recently relocated from a war torn country would most likely not be a candidate for Conduct disorder even though he or she may exhibit some of the characteristics.
Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2013). Abnormal Psychology.
Renner, T., Morrisey, J., Mae, L., Feldman, R., & Majors, M. (2011). Psychsmart, New York, NY. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
2. Emery, Robert E., and Oltmanns, Thomas F. Abnormal Psychology. New Jersey: Simon & Schuster, 1998.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Therefore, to consider the causes of severe conduct problems that can lead to crime in children with CU traits, a biopsychosocial approach must be taken. Accordingly, studies in the areas of developmental psychology, heritability and genes, brain structure and activity and environmental factors have been reviewed.
Many think that all that has to be done to cure a delinquent behavior in an adolescent is to have stricter rules to constrain them. The purpose of treatment for conduct disorder is to prevent further delinquency behavior. In order to come up with a treatment plan, a therapist must know what events or emotions triggered the conduct disorder and the individual’s interaction with their different environments. When treating conduct disorder the process consists of practicing psychotherapy and medication. Derek’s therapist put him through cognitive-behavioral therapy, which tries to improve problem solving skills, anger management, moral reasoning skills, and impulse control. Family therapy may also help with an individual’s disorder so one can gather the family’s feelings and teach them how to help their child. If one is not treated quickly and effectively for conduct disorder he or she may be at risk for developing other mental
Conduct disorder (CD) in children and adolescence is a serious matter that has major adverse effects to the child, to their parents, and to their entire community. This disorder is chronic and worsens overtime that forces the child into a life of risky aggressive impulses, pattern of destructive behavior, disregard for rules, regulation, and authority. Since CD is a condition that develops over a long period of time, children can carry the side effects of negative behaviors into their adulthood. CD is one of the most common diagnosed disorder among children and adolescence, and according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Mental health integration, 2009), “Conduct Disorder s repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated” (Mental health integration, 2009). At a young age, children with CD will have difficulties in school; learning, forming friendships, and become socially rejected by their peers. By the time the child is an adolescent, CD can stem into many other undesired mental concerns and disorders. An adolescent with CD will likely have numerous run-ins with the law, difficulties forming and maintaining relationships, and difficulty sustaining long-term employment. Some symptoms of CD is bulling, fighting, cruelty to people or animals, rape, vandalism, fire-setting, robbery, theft, and school truancy (Mental health integration, 2009). It is important to note that the average child and adolescent may act on one or two of the symptoms, and that is completely normal. It starts to become a concern when these symptoms are constant and repetitive.
People of this disorder will often disregard other people’s needs and feelings as well as safety for themselves and others. They will often violate other individuals rights with aggressive and violent behaviors that would only make them have recurring problems with the law. Also, they would experience impulsive behavior like persistent lying and stealing by using aliases to con others.
There are several reasons why juveniles commit crimes. These reasons range from an unstable family to peer pressure. According to the Juvenile Forensic Evaluation Center there are also a plethora of psychological disorders that contribute to juvenile crime. These disorders include; Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dysthymia, Conduct Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (Sheras). The center claims that these disorders can lead to aggressive behavior in adolescents. Familial risks also play a large role in contributing to delinquent behavior. Children that are products of divorced parent or who have suffered abuse within the family are more likely to commit crimes. Lack of parental supervision and involvement has forced many children to fend themselves. Many of these adolescents are left alone for hours and begin to commit crimes.
Fox, Ronald E., Gregory, Ian and Rosen, Ephraim. Abnormal Psychology. London: W.B. Saunders Company, 2nd Ed., 1972.