Conduct Disorder

Family and Parenting Interventions in Children and Adolescents With Conduct Disorder and Delinquency Aged 10–17. Woolfenden SR, Williams K, Peat J. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;3 :CD003015 . Available at: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD003015/frame.htmlOpenUrlConduct Disorder. Tynan WD. eMedicine Specialties, Pediatrics, Developmental and Behavioral. 2006. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2793.htmEvidence-based Practice for Conduct Disorder Symptoms. Thomas CR. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;45 :109– 114OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedChildren’s Mental Health Facts: Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2003. Available at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0010/default.asp

Conduct disorder is defined by the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Edition IV, as “a persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate social norms are violated.” The 2% to 4% of school-age children who are diagnosed with this disorder exhibit repetitive behaviors that intend to harm people, animals, or property or carry the potential for such harm.

The deliberate, rule-breaking behaviors generally fall into four categories: 1) aggression toward people and animals, 2) destruction of property, 3) lying and theft, and 4) other serious violation of rules that can include truancy or substance use. Prior to age 10 …