What is conduct disorder?
Conduct disorders are a complicated group of behavioral and emotional problems in youngsters. These children have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. Most of the time they are viewed by other children, adults and social agencies as bad delinquents, rather than having a genuine medical problem.

How do children with conduct disorders behave?
These children show aggression to people and animal e.g. they have physical fights, are cruel to people or animals, sometimes use weapons that could cause physical harm to others, bully, threaten, steal from a victim or even force someone to sexual activity. They may cause destruction of property e.g. deliberately destroy other’s property. They engage in deceitfulness, lying or stealing and serious violations of rules.

What are the causes of a child developing conduct disorder?
There are many factors, which may contribute to a child developing conduct disorder like brain damage, child abuse, genetic vulnerability, school failure and traumatic life experiences.

What is the treatment of conduct disorder?
Treatment of conduct disorder can be complex and challenging. Treatment can be provided in different settings and depending on the severity of the behaviour. Many times challenge of treatment is the child’s uncooperative attitude, fear and distrust of adults. Behaviour therapy and psychotherapy also can help. In developing a comprehensive treatment plan, a child and adolescent psychiatrist may use information from the child, family, teachers and other medical specialties to understand the causes of the disorder. Parents also need expert assistance in devising and carrying out special management and educational programme in the home and at school. Medication is also required depending on child condition.

Last updated on 01-03-2007