Most parents of teenagers are familiar with common behavioral problems, such as staying out too late, dressing to shock or refusing to put down their cell phones. But if your teen's behavior issues seem disproportionate to those of his peers, he may be suffering from a psychological disorder.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Most teenagers are occasionally defiant toward parents, teachers and other authority figures. However, for adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder, or ODD, defiance and hostility severely interfere with their quality of life. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1 to 16 percent of school-age children have ODD. Symptoms of the disorder include frequent temper tantrums, excessive anger and revenge-seeking behavior. Teens with ODD may have always been more demanding than their siblings, a sign that biological factors may contribute to the disorder. If you suspect your child may have ODD, see a psychiatrist or child psychologist who can help rule out other mental illness. ODD often overlaps with mood or anxiety disorders.
Conduct Disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder can precede conduct disorder. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that the two conditions do not co-occur. A teen who meets diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder repeatedly violates the physical and emotional boundaries of others. He may lie, steal, destroy property or assault people or animals. He will often have a high rate of school expulsions, injuries or legal troubles. Conduct disorder appears to be more common in boys than girls, affecting 1 to 4 percent of children ages 9 through 17. Children with a history of abuse, neglect or poverty may be at increased risk for developing conduct disorder.
Mood Disorders
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in eight adolescents suffers from depression, the most common mood disorder. Less frequent but more severe is bipolar disorder, in which moods swing from manic highs to suicidal lows. Mood disorders can be difficult to diagnose in teens due to the natural fluctuation of adolescent emotions, but there are warning signs that a teenager's mood swings are out of the ordinary. Suicidal ideation is a major indicator and should always be taken very seriously. Teens with mood disorders may lack self-esteem, be hypersensitive to rejection or criticism and show a marked loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities. Because mood disorders can place teens at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders and self-harm, it is important to be aware of and sensitive to their symptoms.
