Conduct Disorder Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

What Is Conduct Disorder?

Conduct disorder (CD) is a psychological disorder diagnosed in childhood or adolescence that presents itself through a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate norms are violated.

These behaviors are often referred to as “antisocial behaviors. It is often seen as the precursor to antisocial personality disorder, which is not diagnosed until the individual is 18 years old

Problems may involve defiant or impulsive behavior, drug use, or criminal activity.

Causes Of Conduct Disorder:

Although the exact cause of conduct disorder is still not fully understood, a series of factors are thought to play an integral part in the development of the condition.

Child abuse
Drug or alcohol abuse in the parents
Family conflicts
Genetic defects
Poverty
Learning disabilities

ADHD
a history of academic difficulty and failure
long-standing socialization difficulties with family and peers

Cognitive factors
intelligence and cognitive deficits
Brain differences

Reduced responses in brain regions associated with antisocial behavior (i.e., amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, insula, and orbitofrontal cortex).
Less responsiveness in the orbitofrontal regions of the brain during a stimulus-reinforcement and reward task.
reduction in grey matter volume in the amygdala, which may account for the fear conditioning deficits

Intra-individual factors
sibling or parent with conduct disorder increases the likelihood of having the disorder

Symptoms Of Conduct Disorder:

Symptoms of conduct disorder can be divided into four categories.

Aggressive behavior

fighting
bullying
being cruel to others or animals
using weapons
Forcing another into sexual activity.

Destructive behavior

arson (deliberate fire-setting)
Vandalism (harming another person’s property).

Deceitful behavior

repeated lying
shoplifting
Breaking into homes or cars in order to steal.

Violation of rules

running away
skipping school
playing pranks
being sexually active at a very young age

Diagnosis Of Conduct Disorder:

There is no real test for diagnosing conduct disorder. The diagnosis is made when a child or teen has a history of conduct disorder behaviors.

A physical examination and blood tests can help rule out medical conditions that are similar to conduct disorder. In rare cases, a brain scan helps rule out other disorders.

It is diagnosed based on a prolonged pattern of antisocial behavior such as serious violation of laws and social norms and rules in people younger than the age of 18.