A behavior pattern characterized by such behaviors as stealing, violence, running away from home, and truancy occurs in about 10 percent of children under 16 years of age. Within the framework of the DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, (DSM-IV), this serious and persistent pattern of antisocial behavior is diagnostically labeled conduct disorder (CD). CD is the most common psychiatric disorder in emotionally disturbed youth, present in about 75 percent of cases. Boys outnumber girls in ratios of 4:1, but 8:1 for property and violent crimes. Emerging evidence suggests, however, that the gender gap is narrowing; and by adolescence, commonly associated problems include alcoholism, drug addiction, criminality, incarceration, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), pregnancies, prostitution, traumatic injuries, dropping out of school, and comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Diagnosis

In the American Psychiatric Association classification system for diagnosing mental disorder (DSM-IV), conduct disorder is defined as...