Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Comprehensive Overview

1. Chapter 10 Conduct Disorder and Related Conditions

2. Terms Commonly Used • Antisocial • Aggressive • Oppositional • Socially Maladjusted • Disorderly • Delinquent

3. Oppositional Defiant Disorders • Children with ODD exhibit recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures

4. Conduct Disorders • More serious than ODD • Behavior violates the rights of others, destroys property, persistently violates rules • Broad label used to identify a number of aversive and socially disruptive behaviors (going against societal norms)

5. Childhood-onset conduct disorder • Occurs before age 10 • Shows early characteristics of physical aggression, disturbed peer relationships, and early oppositional or noncompliant behavior • Adolescent-onset • Occurs after age 10 • Overt displays of aggressive behavior and to have disturbed peer relations

6. Characteristics of Conduct-disordered Children (DSM-IV-TR) • Aggression to People and Animals • Often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others • Often initiates physical fights • Has used a weapon that can cause serious harm • Has been physically cruel to people • Has been physically cruel to animals • Has stolen while confronting a victim • Has forced someone into sexual activity

7. Destruction of Property • Has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage • Has deliberately destroyed others’ property

8. Aggression Noncompliance Physically attacks others Verbally Abusive Destroys property Sets fire Vandalizes Cruel to animals Revengeful Breaks established rules Does not follow commands Argues Does the opposite of what is requested Behavioral Excesses

9. Moral Behavior Shows little remorse for destructive behavior Appears to have no conscience Lacks concern for feelings of others Behavioral Deficits

10. Social Behavior Has few friends Lacks affection or bonding Has few problem-solving skills Acts aggressively and impulsively rather than cooperatively Constantly seeks attention Poor conversation skills Doesn’t know how to reward other peers and adults socially Behavioral Deficits

11. Academics and School Generally behind in academic basics, particularly reading Has difficulty acquiring new academic information Truant Behavioral Deficits

12. Antisocial-Aggressive Behavior • Aggression/violence used to control others through coercion • Example: child resorting to tantrum in order to get parents to buy them something in a store

13. Noncompliance • Refusing to do what is requested • One of most common childhood behavior problems • Ignoring requests of adults • Delaying, passively resisting, arguing, or giving excuses for not doing something

14. Prevalence • Boys more likely diagnosed as having conduct disorder than are girls • Males exhibit more aggression, stealing, vandalism, fire setting, and school-related problems • Females display more lying, substance abuse, running away and prostitution

15. Causes • Three general causes • Biological causes including genetic inheritance • Family factors such as child-rearing and disciplinary practices • Modeling by parents, peers, or others

16. Treatment • Psychodynamic therapy – not shown to be effective • Catharsis – not shown to be effective in reducing aggression • Social learning and behavioral approaches – some programs have been effective, although they require specific targeting of behaviors for intervention

17. Pathways to Juvenile Delinquency • Adolescent violent criminality (the aggressive versatile path) • The nonviolent path • The illicit drug use path