Conduct disorder (behavioral issues) symptoms

Conduct Disorder

The essential feature of Conduct Disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated (Criterion A). These behaviors fall into four main groupings: aggressive conduct that causes or threatens physical harm to other people or animals (Criteria A1-A7), nonaggressive conduct that causes property loss or damage (Criteria A8-A9), deceitfulness or theft (Criteria A10-A12), and serious violations of rules (Criteria A13-A15). Three (or more) characteristic behaviors must have been present during the past 12 months, with at least one behavior present in the past 6 months. The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning (Criterion B). Conduct Disorder may be diagnosed in individuals who are older than age 18 years, but only if the criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder are not met (Criterion C). The behavior pattern is usually present in a variety of settings such as home, school, or the community. Because individuals with Conduct Disorder are likely to minimize their conduct problems, the clinician often must rely on additional informants. However, the informant's knowledge of the child's conduct problems may be limited by inadequate supervision or by the child's not having revealed them.

Diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder

1. A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated, as manifested by the presence of three (or more) of the following criteria in the past 12 months, with at least one criterion present in the past 6 months:
   1. Aggression to people and animals
      1. often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others
      2. often initiates physical fights
      3. has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others (e.g., a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun)
      4. has been physically cruel to people
      5. has been physically cruel to animals
      6. has stolen while confronting a victim (e.g., mugging, purse snatching, extortion, armed robbery)
      7. has forced someone into sexual activity
   2. Destruction of property
      1. has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage
      2. has deliberately destroyed others' property (other than by fire setting)
   3. Deceitfulness or theft
      1. often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligations (i.e., "cons" others)
      2. has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim (e.g., shoplifting, but without breaking and entering; forgery)
   4. Serious violations of rules
      1. often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before age 13 years
      2. has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in parental or parental surrogate home (or once without returning for a lengthy period)
      3. is often truant from school, beginning before age 13 years
2. The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
3. If the individual is age 18 years or older, criteria are not met for Antisocial Personality Disorder.