Conduct disorder is a diagnosis given to children (under the age of 18) who exhibit serious behavioral problems. According to the DSM-IV-TR (2000) conduct disorders affects between one percent and ten percent of the population, with boys being more highly affected than girls. The adult diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder requires a previous childhood diagnosis of conduct disorder. It is important to differentiate between childhood behaviors that are protective and/or due to circumstance (for example, a starving child who steals food) versus behaviors that meet the criteria for conduct disorder.
Main Criteria
A diagnosis of conduct disorder requires a pattern of behavior that violates the rights of others and demonstrates a disregard for social norms, rules and laws. Behaviors meeting the criteria fall into several categories. An individual must demonstrate any three (or more) of these behaviors over a 12-month period, with at least one behavior occurring within the past six months. The actions of the child must cause significant impairment in his social, familial or educational functioning.
Category 1: Aggression to People or Animals
Behaviors under this category include bullying, threatening or intimidating people or animals, initiating fights, using a weapon or an object as a weapon (for example a bat, broken bottle, etc.) to intimidate or hurt people or animals, stealing from a victim and forcing sexual activity. Other behaviors of physical cruelty such as putting animals or other children in the microwave, dishwasher or laundry, lighting animals or people on fire or throwing/pushing animals or people from a significant height also meet this criteria.
Category 2: Destruction of Property
Behaviors that fall under this category include deliberately setting a fire with the intention of causing damage or any other behavior meant to deliberately cause damage to other people's property and belongings.
Category 3: Deceitfulness or Theft
This category includes behaviors such as breaking into someone else's house, car, locker, room, etc. and conning others into gaining favors, money, power or to get out of obligations the individual does not want to do. In addition, stealing small items with little value falls into this category, but only if there is not a confrontation with a victim during the theft, i.e., shoplifting or forgery.
Category 4: Serious Violations of Rules
Behaviors in this category include staying out at night (starting before age 13) despite parental rules prohibiting such behavior, running away from home at least twice and staying away from home for an extended amount of time at least once while under the care of a parent or guardian and truancy (skipping school) beginning before age 13.
References
- American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
- AAFP: Conduct Disorder: Diagnosis and Treatment in Primary Care
