Conduct+Disorder

**__Conduct Disorder__** __Conduct Disorder__ is a group of behavioral and emotional problems in children. It refers to children who have a hard time following rules and accepting social norms. Many factors contribute to children developing this disorder including, brain damage, abuse, school failure, and traumatic experiences.
 * 1) Cause
 * 2) Symptoms
 * 3) Public Perceptions
 * 4) Treatments
 * 5) Disorders similar to conduct disorders

__**Causes**__ There are no exact causes of conduct disorder but it is believed that it is due to the effect of their biological, genetic, environmental, and social factors.
 * Biological: Conduct disorder has been linked to special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. these help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. sometimes these chemicals do not work properly and don't balance out correctly which effects messages get to the brain which leads to symptoms of conduct disorder
 * Genetics: Genetics is a big factor in the idea of conduct disorder. It is believed that most kids with conduct disorder has a close relative with the same disorder or mental illness. this could include mood disorders, personality disorders, or anxiety disorders. These different disorders could effect the child's brain causing the disorder.
 * Environmental: Having a poor family life, child abuse, and traumatic experiences can effect the way the child views right or wrong and may contribute to conduct disorder.
 * Social: Not being excepted by their peers and not participating in social activities can be a risk factor for the development of conduct disorder.

**__Symptoms__**

Children with conduct disorder are impulsive, hard to control, and indifferent to the feelings of others. The symptoms include:


 * Breaking rules without reason
 * Cruel and violent behavior towards people and animals
 * Drinking or drug use
 * Running away
 * Vandalism
 * Lying to gain favors or avoid tasks

__**Public Perception**__

The general outlook on people with conduct disorder is poor. Often times people think that they are just deviant children and don't realize that they have a mental disorder. This being said if the child is in special care barring the most extreme cases the outlook on their future is generally mild to good.

**__Treatments__**

There are many treatments however the most successful are those which involve the family. Cases involving abuse generally elicit the child being removed from their home and sometimes being administered drugs. The wilderness and boot camp programs offered are not only ineffective but harmful to the child. The sooner the treatment is started the more successful it will be.

**__Similar Disorders__**

ADHD can have similar yet less extreme symptoms.

ADHD

Works Cited:

Vorvick, Linda J. "Conduct Disorder - PubMed Health." 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. .

Loeber, R., Farrington, D.P., Stouthamer-Loeber, M., & Van Kammen, W.B. (1998). Antisocial behavior and mental health problems: Explanatory factors in childhood and adolescence. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

"Conduct Disorder." //American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry//. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. .