2 - Conduct and Oppositional Defiant Disorders

Abstract

Two common disorders of children and youth who demonstrate antisocial and aggressive behaviors significantly beyond what would be considered within the normal realm of disruptive and acting-out behavior exhibited by peers of similar age and development are oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD). Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder are two common disorders of children and youth. ODD is a pattern of defiant, negativistic, and hostile behavior such as arguing with authority figures, conning others, annoying people, refusing to comply with adults' requests, defying rules of behavior, and being angry and resentful to such a degree as to result in significant problems in social, academic, or occupational functioning. Conduct disorder is a pattern of behavior that persistently violates the basic rights of others and/or the age-appropriate norms of society. This pattern of behavior includes serious violations of rules (e.g., school truancy, staying out at night without the permission of parents), destruction of property (e.g., vandalism, arson), theft, and aggression to people and animals (e.g., threatening and bullying others, being physically cruel to people and animals, fighting with others). This chapter presents five stories—one personal story, one parental story, and three professional stories pertaining to ODD and conduct disorders. Some themes within and across many of the stories are that some parents of children with a diagnosis of conduct disorder want them to attend therapy (that is most often court-ordered) in the hopes that their child will avoid further legal consequences. In addition, children and youth with ODD have a mismatch between what they perceive they need to do to get their needs met and what parents, teachers, and others want them to do to meet their needs.