Conduct Disorder
by: Mia and Joseph
Causes
genetic causes- Impairment in the frontal lobe of the brain has been linked to conduct disorder. The frontal lobe of your brain regulates emotions and is home to your personality.
The frontal lobe in a person with conduct disorder may not work properly, causing, among otherthings:
- A reduced ability to plan future actions
-a lack of impulse control
- a reduced ability to learn from the past negative experiences
Symptoms
-aggressive conduct
-deceitful behavior
-destructive conduct
-violation of rules
Signs
-Antisocial behaviors, such as bullying and fighting
-Breaking rules without apparent reason
-Cruel or aggressive behavior toward people and animals (fights, using dangerous weapons, forced sexual activity, mugging or purse snatching)
-Destruction of property (deliberately setting fires, breaking and entering, destroying other people's property)
-Heavy drinking and/or heavy illicit drug use
-Lying to get a favor or avoid obligations
-Running away
-Truancy (beginning before age 13)
-Vandalism
Treatment
Successful treatment requires close involvement of the child's family. Parents can learn techniques to help manage their child's problem behavior. In cases of abuse, the child may need to be removed from the family and placed in a less chaotic environment. Treatment with medications or talk therapy may be used for depression and attention-deficit disorder, which commonly accompany conduct disorder. Many "behavioral modification" schools, "wilderness programs," and "boot camps" are sold to parents as solutions for conduct disorder. These may use a form of "attack therapy" or "confrontation," which can actually be harmful. There is no research support for such techniques. Research suggests that treating children at home, along with their families, is more effective. If you are considering an inpatient program, be sure to check it out thoroughly.