| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | -has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the |
| Most parents of Oppositional Defiant Disorder children | | | | intention of causing serious damage |
| feel that things can't get much worse. Well, in the | | | | -has deliberately destroyed other's property other than |
| event you ever felt that way I am about to put things | | | | by fire setting |
| in perspective for you. We are now going to discuss | | | | Deceitfulness or theft: |
| Conduct Disorder. | | | | -has broken into someone else's house, building or car |
| Conduct Disorder is the most serious of all disruptive | | | | -often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid work |
| behavior disorders in children and teens. This difficult | | | | -has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting |
| condition affects between 1 to 4 percent of children | | | | a victim (shoplifting, forgery) |
| and adolescents, is more common in boys than in girls, | | | | Serious violations of rules: |
| and occurs more frequently in cities than in rural areas. | | | | -often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, |
| There are chidren who show signs of Conduct | | | | beginning before 13 years of age |
| Disorder very early in life, even before they begin to | | | | -has run away from home overnight at least twice |
| go to school. | | | | without returning home for a lengthy period |
| Conduct Disorder often is viewed as a worse version | | | | -often skips school before age 13 |
| of ODD, however there are some differences. | | | | The main thing that separates ODD from conduct |
| Oppositional Defiant Disorder children tend to have | | | | disorder is the issue of danger. Oppositional defiant |
| worse social skills than children with Conduct Disorder. | | | | disorder children can be exasperating for everyone |
| Also, ODD children may be difficult and defiant, but | | | | around them. They argue, they manipulative, they |
| they usually have no desire to deliberately harm others. | | | | cause discord between parents, and they disrupt the |
| Their difficult behavior is more of a result of their | | | | lives of everyone around them. But these children are |
| frustration and their lack of tolerance. | | | | not dangerous. They do not harm others. With conduct |
| Children with Conduct Disorder do intentionally cause | | | | disorder children, safety is a major concern. They are |
| harm to others, often for no real reason. Their | | | | a threat to the body and possessions of those around |
| antisocial behavior may include vandalism and theft, | | | | them. |
| and these children terrorize their community. Usually by | | | | Even if your child has signs of Conduct Disorder, there |
| the age of ten, these children have already been | | | | is room for optimism. It used to be thought that |
| involved with illegal activities on a frequent enough | | | | conduct disorder children were just in the early stages |
| basis that they have already had contact with the | | | | of a life long path of criminal behavior. This is not true |
| police. | | | | for most children. |
| Here is the official definition: | | | | Conduct Disorder children usually have multiple |
| Conduct Disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern | | | | concurrent psychiatric problems. Most commonly these |
| of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major | | | | children have ADHD, but many also have bipolar |
| society rules are violated. | | | | disorder, depression, learning disorders, and anxiety |
| The diagnosis requires that at least three of the | | | | disorder. These other disorders are the key to |
| following criteria be present in the last 12 months, and | | | | treatment. |
| at least one criterion must have been present in the | | | | Frequently, when you address the other problems, the |
| last 6 months. | | | | Conduct Disorder behavior improves or goes away. |
| These are: | | | | This is true to such an extent, that treating concurrent |
| Aggression to people and animals: | | | | disorders is the major key to breaking the path of a |
| -often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others | | | | conduct disorder child to a career criminal. Therefore, if |
| -often initiates physical fights | | | | your child does have conduct disorder, you absolutely |
| -has used a weapon that can cause serious physical | | | | must find out all the other problems he has and treat |
| harm to others (a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun) | | | | them aggressively. This is another reason why a good |
| -physically cruel to animals | | | | evaluation is so essential. |
| -physically cruel to people | | | | If you suspect your child has Conduct Disorder, you |
| -has stolen while confronting a victim ( mugging, purse | | | | should take aggressive action. This is not the type of |
| snatching, extortion, armed robbery) | | | | condition that you want to wait around and hope your |
| Destruction of property: | | | | child will outgrow. |