Over the 15 years I spent working with adolescent students who had emotional and /or behavioral disorders; the most common mental health diagnosis I encountered was conduct disorder. Students with conduct order are
often very volatile and display continual antisocial misbehavior. Usually these students' behavior involves: aggressive behavior towards others (may include animals); rule-breaking; theft; lying and/or manipulation and/or property destruction.
According the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health website (www.macmh.org): "To receive a diagnosis of conduct disorder, a child or adolescent must have displayed 3 or more characteristic behaviors in the past 12 months. At least 1 of these behaviors must have been evident during the past 6 months.
Diagnosing conduct disorder can be a dilemma because children are constantly changing. This makes it difficult to discern whether the problem is persistent enough to warrant a diagnosis. In some cases, what appears to be conduct disorder may be a problem adjusting to acute or chronic stress. Many children with conduct disorder also have learning disabilities and about 1/3 are depressed. Many children stop exhibiting behavior problems when they are treated for depression.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that between 6 and 16 percent of males and 2 to 9 percent of females under age 18 have conduct disorder that ranges in severity from mild to severe."
The behaviors presented by a conduct disorder student, in a classroom setting, can be very challenging. They may include, but are not limited to:
Lack of empathy
Causing harm or threatening to cause harm to self and/or others
Continual rule-breaking
Lying to and/or manipulating staff and peers
Defiance and non-compliance
Bursts of rage
Destroying property (of self and/or others)
Theft
According the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health website (www.macmh.org): "To receive a diagnosis of conduct disorder, a child or adolescent must have displayed 3 or more characteristic behaviors in the past 12 months. At least 1 of these behaviors must have been evident during the past 6 months.
Diagnosing conduct disorder can be a dilemma because children are constantly changing. This makes it difficult to discern whether the problem is persistent enough to warrant a diagnosis. In some cases, what appears to be conduct disorder may be a problem adjusting to acute or chronic stress. Many children with conduct disorder also have learning disabilities and about 1/3 are depressed. Many children stop exhibiting behavior problems when they are treated for depression.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that between 6 and 16 percent of males and 2 to 9 percent of females under age 18 have conduct disorder that ranges in severity from mild to severe."
The behaviors presented by a conduct disorder student, in a classroom setting, can be very challenging. They may include, but are not limited to:
Lack of empathy
Causing harm or threatening to cause harm to self and/or others
Continual rule-breaking
Lying to and/or manipulating staff and peers
Defiance and non-compliance
Bursts of rage
Destroying property (of self and/or others)
Theft
Choosing a Child Psychologist for a Conduct Disorder
Overview of Conduct Disorders, and what to look for in a therapist.
Keys to Identifying a Conduct Disorder in Children
Not sure if your child is acting out or has a behavior disorder? Here is a look at several tips on how to identify conduct disorder and how to treat it.
Conduct Disorders Explained
Having a Conduct Disorder is a lot more serious than simply behaving badly. It is a concept applied to people whose consciences do not work as intended.
Positive Parenting: Conduct Disorder in the Hearing Impaired Child
For children with a hearing impairment, positive parenting is the most effective way to reduce the risk conduct disorders
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