Childhood disruptive behavior disorders include ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder. Genetics and neglect/abuse can contribute to these disorders. Diagnosis involves examining behavior in different situations. Parental interventions and therapy are important treatments. Coexisting disorders can complicate treatment. Medications may be effective for some disorders.
There are three main types of childhood disruptive behavior disorder. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors. Oppositional defiant disorder is a childhood disorder in which a child is excessively disobedient and hostile. Conduct disorder is a more severe form of oppositional defiant disorder in which disobedient behavior leads to bullying and even criminal acts.
There is no single known cause of disruptive behavior disorder. Genetics play a role in ADHD, and fetal alcohol exposure is a contributing factor. Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are often seen in children who have been neglected or abused.
To diagnose disruptive behavior disorder, a psychiatrist must examine a child’s behavior in different situations. A psychiatrist will typically consult with parents, as well as teachers and other health care professionals, to get the full picture. If a child only acts in one situation, the destructive behavior could have a cause related to that particular situation.
Disruptive behavior disorder can be difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms are things that children do naturally. For example, one of the symptoms of ADHD is impulsive behavior, actions such as blurting an answer in class or interrupting. In a disorder like ADHD, however, the actions are much more serious than among the child’s peers and interfere with her daily life.
In all types of disruptive behavior disorders, parental interventions are an important part of treatment. If your child is in a neglectful or abusive environment, they should be moved to a stable home immediately. In the case of ADHD, parents can help by setting schedules and helping the child organize household chores and school assignments. For oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, parents can learn skills to handle difficult children. Consistent and reasonable discipline can be difficult to enforce, but it is a key part of treating a disruptive behavior disorder.
Therapy is another helpful treatment for a disruptive behavior disorder. Therapy can help parents learn to manage challenging behaviors and build better parent-child relationships. For children who have experienced abuse or neglect, therapy can be a way to overcome past traumas and learn to form new relationships. Therapy can also teach children problem solving and social skills.
Often two or three disruptive behavior disorders coexist, making a child more difficult to diagnose and treat. Conduct disorder can coexist with depression or bipolar disorder, and children with unmanaged ADHD can also develop depression. Medications can be an effective treatment for depression and ADHD, however, they are not effective in treating other behavior disorders.
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