WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Conduct disorder is the medical label for a pattern of
behavior in which a child refuses to follow rules and tends to
pick fights with other kids, hurt animals, set fires, destroy
things, steal, or lie. The problem (also called a disruptive
behavior disorder) is found in children less than 18 years old.
It's most common in boys.
Left unchecked, this type of conduct quickly leads to
problems at home and in school. If the child goes totally out
of control and becomes dangerous, he may have to be
hospitalized.
Causes
Doctors have been unable to pinpoint any single cause of
this disorder. However, they do know that the problem is more
common among children with at least one parent who exhibits
angry or harmful behavior, yells at them, or hits them.
Children also are more likely to develop this disorder when
left without adult supervision.
Signs/Symptoms
Signs of conduct disorder can appear as early as 4 years
of age. The disorder may grow worse as the child gets older. A
typical youngster with conduct disorder
may:
-
Argue and refuse to follow
adult requests and rules
-
Frequently lose his
temper
-
Cheat
-
Skip school
-
Run away from
home
-
Pick fights
-
Use a weapon (gun or knife)
in fights
-
Injure other
children
-
Torture animals
-
Set fires
-
Shift blame to
others
-
Damage property
-
Experiment with alcohol,
cigarettes, street drugs, or sex
While some children with conduct disorder improve, others
engage in increasingly dangerous behavior as they get older.
The disorder can lead to problems with the criminal justice
system in the teenage years and later.
Care
The usual approach to this problem is counseling for both
child and family, with an emphasis on ways to cope with such
behavior. If a child becomes dangerous, hospitalization may be
necessary.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
A severe case of this disorder can require either
full-time hospitalization in a locked inpatient unit, or a
partial care program in which the child is able to return home
after each day's treatment. Inpatients may wear their own
clothes, but are customarily searched for sharp objects such as
scissors or nail files, which are held in a staff office.
Patients who present a danger outside the hospital can be
involuntarily hospitalized for up to 3 days by the police or a
doctor. During hospitalization, you may encounter the following
procedures.
-
Group Therapy: These meetings are somewhat like a
support group session, allowing patients to share coping
strategies. The meetings are run by medical
staff.
-
Individual Therapy: This is a time for the child to
meet alone with a therapist to discuss ways of dealing with
the illness.
-
Family Meetings: In these sessions, medical staff
will prepare you and your family for the child's return
home.
-
Time Out: If the child becomes unable to control
himself, the staff may separate him from the other
patients, either in his own room or---if he seems
violent---in a "safety room."
-
Restraints: Patients who pose a danger to themselves
or others may be physically restrained with leather
bands.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
-
Make sure that the child
takes any prescribed medication regularly. Check with your
doctor before giving any other drugs, either prescription
or over-the-counter.
-
Make a point of praising and
rewarding the child for doing well.
-
Set clear rules about
behavior at home and at school. Make sure the youngster
understands exactly what will happen if the rules are
broken. One effective punishment is taking away something
enjoyable, such as TV privileges.
-
Call a time-out when the
youngster gets out of control at home. After he calms down,
talk about what happened.
-
Explain the disorder to the
child's teachers and anyone else who deals with the
youngster regularly.
-
Set aside a time each month
for family members to discuss the situation and assess how
things are going.
-
Plenty of exercise and active
playtime can help. Encourage it.
-
Regular sleep is also very
important. If the youngster can't sleep, let your doctor
know.
-
Accepting this disorder may
be difficult, even though it provides an explanation of the
youngster's behavioral problems. Don't hesitate to express
your feelings to doctors, family, and friends. Joining a
support group can also help.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
The child can't sleep, or
sleeps too much.
-
The child gets out of control
and becomes destructive.
-
You feel you can't cope with
the situation.
Seek Care Immediately
If...
-
The child threatens to hurt
himself or others.
-
You fear you're going to lose
control and hurt the child.
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