Conduct Disorder Treatment

When receiving treatment for conduct disorder at Priory, factors such as the age of your child and severity of their symptoms will impact on what type of treatment they receive and for how long.

After a full assessment, a treatment plan may combine one-to-one therapy and family therapy, with a focus on encouraging desired behaviours and managing conduct disorder in a home environment. Therapy methods for teenagers may target peer relationship skills and improvement in interaction with authority figures outside of the home. A positive change in communicating with others in less aggressive ways improves the social confidence and self-esteem of the young person.   

While it can take a long time to establish new thought and behaviour patterns, early treatment can reduce the severity of symptoms or prevent the progression of the disorder into adulthood.

Alongside treatment for conduct disorder, with highly experienced therapists and consultants, a healthy support system for your child both at home and in school can also help. This will aim to encourage desired emotional behaviours and re-build positive relationships with parents and peers.

Some of the talking and behavioural therapies used to treat conduct disorder in young people at Priory include:

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Particularly effective for helping your child to manage their thoughts, behaviours and mood more effectively, CBT uses an action-based and problem solving approach, with the aim of re-building the young person's ability to cope with anger, and skills to control impulsive behaviours.

Family therapy

Family therapy works towards helping parents to manage conduct disorder in their child and learn to communicate in ways that help them cope. Establishing a good support network for the young person will promote understanding of their individual needs. As a parent, you can play a positive role in reducing the impact of your teen's conduct. this can result in your child becoming less distressed and reducing frustration with family dynamics. 

Psychotherapy

Your child can learn to express and control their anger in more socially appropriate ways through treatment with a therapist. Self-care and understanding one's emotions are part of the process. Your teen will be empowered to improve their self-esteem and learn techniques to manage negative behaviours and impulses.       

While medication wouldn’t usually be used in treating conduct disorder, if your child has symptoms of other mental health conditions such as ADHD or depression for example, or particularly distressing symptoms of the disorder, specific medications may be recommended by a GP or consultant psychiatrist.

Conduct disorder usually begins during childhood or adolescence, before 16 years of age. Young people diagnosed with the condition often display aggression towards others in a manner that is socially unacceptable. They may also display a marked lack of consideration for how their reactions and behaviour may affect other people.

Without treatment, conduct disorder can develop into antisocial personality disorder in adulthood. If you recognise the symptoms of the condition in your child, seeking help from Priory can help you get the treatment you need. We can support your child to alter their attitude and change their negative behavioural patterns, improving their mental health. In addition, we can help to reduce family tensions and improve communication between family members. 

Types of Conduct Disorder

As conduct disorder can refer to any group of troubling emotional and behavioural problems, the condition can be categorised into two types. Each type is diagnosed depending on the age at which symptoms become apparent.

Childhood conduct disorder is diagnosed when signs and symptoms of the condition have been observed before your child reaches the age of 10.

Adolescent conduct disorder is diagnosed when signs and symptoms of the condition have been observed during your child’s teenage years.

Depending on the age of your child when they are diagnosed with conduct disorder and the severity of the condition, the symptoms and behaviour they show can vary.

Some of the most frequent symptoms and behaviours your child may display if they have conduct disorder include:

Aggressive behaviour

This is when your child causes physical harm to others, which may present in younger children as pushing, biting or hitting, and older children and adolescents as bullying others in school, physically harming animals or other people, picking fights frequently and turning to crime.

Destructive behaviour

Intentional damage or destruction of someone else’s property, which may include vandalism, arson, or purposely breaking objects in the home.

Deceitful behaviour

More commonly present in older children and adolescents with conduct disorder, this can involve repeatedly lying or stealing from others after gaining their trust.

Breaking rules and orders

Knowingly going against rules of society and institutions such as school or college, which can include playing pranks on others, missing school, or being sexually active at an age which is inappropriate.

The young person may feel gratification when they behave in an inappropriate way. Displays of aggression and a disregard for honesty can be pre-meditated and are often perceived by the young person as gaining power over others.

While the exact cause of conduct disorder isn’t yet known, it's believed there are several factors which may determine whether your child is likely to develop the disorder, including biological, genetic, social and environmental factors.

The assessment process with a Priory therapist will determine whether negative behaviours are due to learned behaviour within an abusive or troubled environment, and whether the 'gratification' aspect of the condition is evident. 

Some of the factors which may play a role in your child developing conduct disorder include:

Biological

Studies have shown that injuries to certain parts of the brain which control impulses and emotions may lead to problems in your child being able to regulate their behaviour.

It has also been found that children diagnosed with conduct disorder often have other mental illnesses, such as an anxiety disorder, depression or ADHD, which may be involved in worsening your child’s symptoms.

Genetics

Many children and teens diagnosed with conduct disorder also have immediate family members with a history of mental illness, including anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and personality disorders, which may indicate that the likelihood of developing the condition is at least partly influenced by your child’s genes.

Environmental

An unstable or abusive life at home may also contribute to the development of conduct disorder in your child. Traumatic experiences and close family members prone to substance abuse are thought to play a role in developing negative behaviours.

Social

Social risk factors for conduct disorder include growing up in a household with low income, having trouble being accepted at school and experiencing academic problems.