Conduct Disorder (CD)
Conduct Disorder (CD) refers to a behavioral pattern of
repeatedly abusing the basic rights of others over time. There are four
types of conduct disorders:
Approximately 80% of children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) will go on to develop conduct disorder if not intervened with. Behaviors children with conduct disorders may show are: aggression, bullying, lying, being deceitful, threatening, intimidation, fighting, damaging property, stealing, being cruel to animals, rape, assault, or even homicide. Approximately 10-25% of children today are diagnosed with some kind of behavior issue. It is unclear how many of these children have conduct disorder, but some experts suggest that between 1-10% do. Boys are diagnosed with conduct disorder more than girls. If left untreated, many children with conduct disorder are later diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder as adults. Conduct disorder is caused by either genetics or from the environment. About the Author: Dr. Catherine Swanson Cain, PhD, LMFT provides counseling and therapy to families of young children with behavior problems or mental health disabilities. She also provides consultation and training to educators, child care providers, and professionals on a variety of behavioral health issues. |