Conduct disorder refers to a behavioral disturbance in children. Children with the disorder behave repeatedly in ways that violate the basic rights of others and that society does not consider appropriate for their age. The behavior is different from general misbehavior, which occurs among nearly all children: usually it lasts longer, is more severe, and involves different kinds of actions. It also has more serious consequences than typical childhood mischief. Conduct disorder is the behavioral problem that child psychiatrists most often treat. Reports of the number of children who have conduct disorder range from less than 1 percent to more than 10 percent of all children. These children are often called antisocial, and one-quarter to one-half of such children will have antisocial personality disorder as adults.

Characteristics

The behaviors that characterize conduct disorder include:

• theft
• vandalism
• physical fights—sometimes with weapons
• fire setting
• running away from home
• truancy...