Treatment for Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Abstract

Abstract This chapter focuses on evidence-based and promising treatments and interventions for conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorders (ODD). Unlike some mental health problems, psychosocial and behavioral interventions are the first line of treatment for CD and ODD. Psychotropic medication is not a first-line treatment for either disorder; however, they are sometime prescribed to manage distressing symptoms or to treat co-occurring disorders. Chapter 12 presents evidence-based and promising practices aimed at the youth only, the caregiver only, or a combination. Multisystemic therapy, multidimensional treatment foster care, functional family therapy, and parent–child interaction therapy are all evidence-based treatments described. The end of the chapter returns to the case studies presented in Chapter 11 and describes the real-life outcomes followed by questions for class discussion.