Childhood and Adolescent Behavioral Problems

9 Pages 2336 Words

e American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychology (AACA) as: “’Conduct disorder’ is a complicated group of behavioral and emotional problems in youngsters. Children and adolescents with this disorder have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. They are often viewed by other children, adults and social agencies as "bad" or delinquent, rather than mentally ill.” (AACA: 2000) The AACA then classifies the disorder through providing a list of behaviors that children suffering from CD often manifest in their daily activities, which includes:

- Aggression to people and animals
- Destruction of Property
- Deceitfulness, lying, or stealing
- Serious violations of rules

The AACA defines and describes the extent and impact of such behaviors, but then continues in suggesting that the primary hazard found in CD is not primarily due to the CD itself, but rather due to the additional disorders that frequently accompany a manifestation of CD. The AACA states:

“Many children with a conduct disorder may have coexisting conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, ADHD, learning problems, or thought disorders which can also be treated. Research shows that youngsters with conduct disorder are likely to have ongoing problems if they and their families do not receive early and comprehensive treatment. Without treatment, many youngsters with conduct disorder are unable to adapt to the demands of adulthood and continue to have problems with relationships and holding a job. They often break laws or behave in an antisocial manner.
“Many factors may contribute to a child developing conduct disorder, including brain damage, child abuse, genetic vulnerability, school failure, and traumatic life experiences.” (AACA: 2000)

The research on conduct disorder strongly cautions that the problems found within CD are not strictly manifested by the child, but rather ...