How to Recognise and Manage Conduct Disorder

Is your child showing signs of conduct disorder? Learn how to spot it and what you can do to support them before it's too late!

Conduct disorder can be a tough and confusing condition for parents to handle. It’s a mental health disorder that affects children and teenagers, leading them to act out in ways that can be harmful to others. When a child has this condition, they often seem to enjoy causing trouble or hurting people, which can be difficult for parents to understand.

Let’s take a closer look at what conduct disorder is, what the signs are, and how parents can get the right support for their child.

What is Conduct Disorder?

Conduct disorder goes beyond the usual bad behaviour that many kids go through. It involves a pattern of aggressive, unkind actions that last for a long time. While it’s normal for kids to have moments of defiance, conduct disorder stands out because of how extreme and persistent the behaviour is.

Children with this condition might lie for no reason, steal just for fun, or bully others regularly. They might also harm animals or destroy property without feeling guilty. For younger children, this could mean pushing, hitting, or biting. As they get older, these behaviours can turn into more serious acts like setting fires, vandalism, or even violent crimes.

How Do I Know if My Child Has Conduct Disorder?

Recognising conduct disorder can be challenging because some of the behaviours can be mistaken for typical misbehaviour. However, children with this condition

show a lack of empathy and often don’t seem to care about the feelings of others. Some common symptoms include:

Not following rules or caring about what’s right or wrong
Enjoying causing harm to others or animals
Being deceitful, lying, and stealing without remorse
Aggressive behaviour, including picking fights or bullying
Destroying things for no reason

Image from iStock

It’s important to remember that all kids act out sometimes, but this condition becomes a concern when these behaviours are frequent, severe, and long-lasting. If you notice these signs in your child over several months, it may be time to seek professional help.

What Causes Conduct Disorder?

There isn’t one single cause of conduct disorder, but several factors can increase a child’s risk. These can include:

A family history of conduct disorder or other mental health issues
Experiencing abuse or neglect at home
Growing up in an environment with little structure or discipline
Having friends who encourage negative behaviours

It’s also possible that biological factors, such as a parent with depression or ADHD, could play a role. However, not all children exposed to these risk factors will develop conduct disorder. Each child is unique, and a combination of factors might be involved.

What Can I Do If My Child Has Conduct Disorder?

As a parent, it can feel overwhelming to handle conduct disorder, but support is available. Early intervention is key, and the sooner you seek help, the better the chances of managing the condition.

Therapy is often the first step in treatment. This could involve working with your child to help them develop better ways to interact with others. At the same time, you as a parent will learn how to set firm boundaries, provide positive reinforcement, and communicate effectively with your child.

For younger children, therapy might focus on teaching parents how to encourage good behaviour at home. In teenagers, therapy could also involve working on relationships with peers and authority figures, like teachers.

Although there is no specific medication for this condition, sometimes children have other conditions, such as ADHD or depression, that can be treated with medication. This, combined with therapy, can improve your child’s behaviour over time.

Moving Forward Together

Living with a child who has conduct disorder can be incredibly challenging, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Understanding the condition and getting the right help early on can make a huge difference. With the support of therapists, teachers, and family members, children with this condition can learn healthier ways to behave and build better relationships.

By staying involved and working closely with professionals, you can help guide your child towards a more positive future. Conduct disorder is difficult, but with patience, consistency, and support, it’s possible to see improvement.

Child Mind Institute

ALSO READ:

Signs And Things To Do If Your Child Experiences Bullying in School

Bullying in Singapore: What You Must Know to Protect Your Child

5 Ways To Ensure Your Child Doesn’t Become A Victim Of Bullying

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Written by

Matt Doctor

Health