Conduct Disorder (Child)
A conduct disorder is a pattern of disturbing behavior. It happens often and can last over some time. It's outside of normal childhood behavior. Conduct disorder is not just disobedience and disrespect, like children often show. Children and teens with this problem have great trouble following rules. They are often labeled “delinquent.” But this condition is considered a mental illness.
Symptoms of this disorder include:
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Consistent pattern of defiance and disobedience.
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Repeatedly losing temper easily.
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Always seeming angry and resentful.
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Blaming others for their mistakes.
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Being excessively selfish and insensitive to the feelings of others.
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Bullying, picking fights, or using weapons to cause harm to others.
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Being cruel to people or to animals.
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Stealing.
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Deliberately destroying property (for example, fire-setting).
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Breaking into other people’s property.
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Lying.
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Running away from home.
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Frequently skipping school.
It's important that your child or teen have a psychiatric evaluation to develop a plan for treatment. This problem is hard to treat. Early treatment offers the best chance. The goal is to address anger and bring about a change in attitude and behavior. Parents can also benefit from therapy. It can help you with your own feelings. It can also teach you how to best support your child.
Home care
Here is what you can do at home:
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Work closely with your child's teachers and the school's mental health staff. Develop a team (teacher, principal, psychologist, mental health provider, social worker, or nurse) to help both your child and your family manage your child's behaviors.
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Listen without giving advice or trying to fix the problem.
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Talk about the difference between right and wrong behaviors. Model appropriate behavior.
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Focus on important issues like safety concerns. Don’t overreact to minor things.
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Hold your ground. When you take a position, don’t give in just to be a friend. Holding a strong and consistent boundary is more important than pleasing during this stage of your child's life.
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Acknowledge your child's anger without trying to make a point. Try,"Sounds like you're really angry about that...". Realize that there are some things that you won't ever agree on. Allow for that.
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Practice a healthy lifestyle to reduce challenging behaviors in child. Regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and good sleep habits may help.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child's doctor, or as advised. Stay in good communication with your child's school. You can then make changes in treatment as soon as needed.
Call or text 988 in a crisis
Call or text 988 if your child is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others. This is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You will be connected to a trained counselor you or your child can talk to. There's also an online chat option. You can also call Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). The 988 Lifeline is free and available 24/7.
For support and information about community resources, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at 1-800-950-6264 or text "helpline" to 62640.
When to contact your child's doctor
Contact your child's doctor right away if:
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There are signs that you know or suspect your child has become a danger to themself or others (teeth marks, head injuries, or bruises on the child with the behavior issue, their siblings, or other children).
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Your child attacks on you or other adults.
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Your child is cruel to animals.
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Your child is expelled from school.
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Your child is being barred from playgrounds by other parents or neighbors.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Chelsey Schilling BSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Daphne Pierce-Smith RN MSN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Lalitha Kadali
Date Last Reviewed:
5/1/2025
© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.