Conduct Disorder

Individuals struggling with conduct disorder regularly engage in behaviours that violate rules, norms, laws, and the rights of other individuals over an extended period of time. Some behaviours individuals may engage in are starting physical fights, using a weapon against another person, destroying other peoples’ property, stealing, and for children running away from home, and skipping school.

In addition to these behaviours individuals struggling with this disorder may not feel guilty about the negative outcomes caused by their behaviour and may not care about the feelings of the people they have hurt.

Further, some individuals may use emotional expression as a manipulation tactic. Another negative impact of this disorder is that individuals tend to perform poorly at school and/or work. Conduct disorder can be diagnosed in childhood or adulthood but usually symptoms develop when the individual is a child or adolescent.

Conduct disorder is treated with behaviour therapy.