Conduct Disorder

Conduct Disorder refers to negative behaviors exhibited by children and teenagers. This is not a mental illness, but the result of deep-seated behavioral and emotional problems, with causes such as anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, or learning disorders. They should be diagnosed early and treatment could be long term, in order to develop new patterns of thinking and behavior.

An adolescent exhibiting Conduct Disorder may show one or all of the following: cruelty to other people or animals, running away, skipping school, lying and stealing, setting fires. Therapy should be offered to the child as well as the family. If not treated, the antisocial behavior often gets worse, leading to juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior.