PSYCHOPATHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT I
11 year old Ram was diagnosed with Conduct Disorder, which is a serious psychological,
behavioural and emotional disorder that usually occurs in children and teens. A child with this
disorder may display a pattern of disruptive and violent behaviour and have problems following
rules. It is not uncommon for children and teens to have behaviour-related problems at some time
during their development. However, the behaviour is considered to be a conduct disorder when it
is long-lasting and when it violates the rights of others, goes against accepted norms of behaviour
and disrupts the child's or family's everyday life.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of conduct disorder vary depending on the age of the child and whether the disorder is
mild, moderate, or severe. In general, symptoms of conduct disorder fall into four general
categories:
1. Aggressive behaviour: These are behaviours that threaten or cause physical harm and
may include fighting, bullying, being cruel to others or animals, using weapons, and
forcing another into sexual activity.
2. Destructive behaviour: This involves intentional destruction of property such as arson
(deliberate fire-setting) and vandalism (harming another person's property).
3. Deceitful behaviour: This may include repeated lying, shoplifting, or breaking into
homes or cars in order to steal.
4. Violation of rules: This involves going against accepted rules of society or engaging in
behaviour that is not appropriate for the person's age. These behaviours may include
running away, skipping school, playing pranks, or being sexually active at a very young
age.
In addition, many children with conduct disorder are irritable, have low self-esteem, and tend to
throw frequent temper tantrums. Some may abuse drugs and alcohol. Children with conduct
disorder often are unable to appreciate how their behaviour can hurt others and generally have
little guilt or remorse about hurting others.
Boys who have conduct disorder are more likely to display aggressive and destructive behaviour
than girls. Girls are more prone to deceitful and rule-violating behaviour.
Also, the symptoms of conduct disorder can be mild, moderate, or severe:
Mild
If your child has mild symptoms, it means they display little to no behaviour problems
above those required to make the diagnosis. Conduct problems cause relatively minor
harm to others. Common issues include lying, truancy, and staying out after dark without
parental permission.
Moderate
Your child has moderate symptoms if they display numerous behaviour problems. These
conduct problems may have a mild to severe impact on others. The problems may include
vandalism and stealing.
Severe
Your child has severe symptoms if they display behaviour problems above those required
to make the diagnosis. These conduct problems cause considerable harm to others. The
problems may include rape, use of a weapon, or breaking and entering.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
A child psychiatrist or qualified mental health expert can diagnose a conduct disorder. He or she
will talk with parents and teachers about the child’s behaviour and may observe the child. In
some cases, your child may need mental health testing. If you notice symptoms of conduct
disorder in your child or teen, you can help by seeking a diagnosis right away. Early treatment
can often prevent future problems.
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and symptoms that
suggest a particular problem. If symptoms of conduct disorder are present, the doctor may begin
an evaluation by performing complete medical and psychiatric histories. A physical exam and
laboratory tests (for example, neuroimaging studies, and blood tests) may be appropriate if there
is concern that a physical illness might be causing the symptoms. The doctor will also look for
signs of other disorders that often occur along with conduct disorder, such as ADHD and
depression.
If the doctor cannot find a physical cause for the symptoms, they will likely refer the child to a
child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially
trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses in children and teens. Psychiatrists and
psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a child for a
mental disorder. The doctor bases their diagnosis on reports of the child's symptoms and their
observation of the child's attitudes and behaviour. The doctor will often rely on reports from the
child's parents, teachers, and other adults because children may withhold information or
otherwise have trouble explaining their problems or understanding their symptoms.
Treatment for conduct disorder is based on many factors, including the child's age, the
severity of symptoms, as well as the child's ability to participate in and tolerate specific
therapies. Treatment usually consists of a combination of the following:
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy, a type of counselling, is aimed at helping the child
learn to express and control anger in more appropriate ways. A type of therapy called
cognitive-behavioural therapy aims to reshape the child's thinking (cognition) to
improve problem solving skills, anger management, moral reasoning skills, and
impulse control. Family therapy may be used to help improve family interactions and
communication among family members. A specialized therapy technique called aren’t
management training (PMT) teaches parents ways to positively alter their child's
behaviour in the home.
Medication: Although there is no medication formally approved to treat conduct
disorder, various drugs may be used (off label) to treat some of its distressing
symptoms (impulsivity, aggression, dysregulated mood), as well as any other mental
illnesses that may be present, such as ADHD or major depression.
Children with conduct disorder living in abusive homes may be placed into other homes. If
abuse isn’t present, your child’s mental health care professional will use behaviour or talk
therapy to help your child learn how to express or control their emotions appropriately. The
mental health care professional will also teach you how to manage your child’s behaviour. If
your child has another mental health disorder, such as depression or ADHD, the mental
health care professional may prescribe medications to treat that condition as well. Because it
takes time to establish new attitudes and behaviour patterns, children with conduct disorder
usually require long-term treatment. However, early treatment may slow the disorder’s
progression or reduce the severity of negative behaviours.
To conclude, therapy might include a suitable combination of the following and the treatment
will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how
severe the condition is.
Treatment for conduct disorder may include:
Cognitive-behavioural therapy. A child learns how to better solve problems,
communicate, and handle stress. He or she also learns how to control impulses and
anger.
Family therapy. This therapy helps make changes in the family. It improves
communication skills and family interactions.
Peer group therapy. A child develops better social and interpersonal skills.
Medicines. These are not often used to treat conduct disorder. But a child may need
them for other symptoms or disorders, such as ADHD.
Prakriti Kohli
Roll no. 26
