What Are the Treatments for Conduct Disorder?

Conduct disorder is a common problem in children and teens. Poor conduct can be caused by a number of mental, physical or psychological factors, but the term "conduct disorder" refers to a specific psychiatric diagnosis of children that exhibit chronic behavioral problems, including aggression, vandalism, theft, fire-starting, lying, cheating and other rule-breaking behaviors. Treatments for conduct disorder depend largely on which symptoms your child is exhibiting and to what extent his behavior affects his ability to interact with others, learn and stay safe.

  1. Family Therapy

    • Two types of family therapy have been found to be effective in treating conduct disorder in children and teens: parent management training and behavioral family therapy.

      Parent Management Training

      In parent management training, parents learn techniques to help them work with their children to problem-solve and learn ways to control their impulses. Positive reinforcement is the basis of the most effective forms of behavior modification techniques taught to parents in parent management training.

      Behavioral Family Therapy

      In behavioral family therapy, issues such as family stress, temperament, unproductive habits and negative reinforcement are addressed so that the family as a whole can learn to adjust its behaviors and attitudes concerning the child and his actions.

    Pharmacotherapy

    • In cases where conduct disorder is caused or complicated by an underlying medical condition, such as ADD, ADHD or a mood disorder, your child's doctor may prescribe medication in addition to therapy to help manage her symptoms. Common medications prescribed to treat ADHD are stimulants, including Ritalin and Dexedrine. For anxiety and depression, antidepressants such as Wellbutrin or Prozac may be prescribed. Children with bipolar disorder or intermittent explosive disorder may respond well to anticonvulsant medications, including Dilantin, Tegretol, Depakene or Lithium, Catapres or a combination of these or other medications. Because many of these medications can have serious side effects, doses must be monitored carefully, and your child's psychiatrist may need to adjust the medication until a proper balance has been achieved.

    Detoxification

    • Children with substance abuse problems or addictions can be effectively treated by a combination of medical detoxification, medication and family, individual, group or behavioral therapy. If your child is suffering from an addiction, he may require inpatient care at a hospital or detoxification clinic.

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