Conduct Disorder

Conduct Disorder (CD) is characterized by behavior that violates either the rights of others or major societal norms, and begins in childhood or adolescence (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Individuals with CD are generally considered to be deceitful, hostile, and destructive. The symptoms categories associated with CD include (a) physical harm to people or animals, (b) destruction of property, (c) deceitfulness and theft, and (c) breaking societal norms. The severity of CD can be determined based upon the individual’s lack of empathy; greater lack of empathy across a variety of settings indicates more severe CD. In order to diagnose a child or adolescent with CD, the enduring and repetitive symptoms of CD must cause significant impairment in social, academic, and occupational functioning, occur more than once per week, and be present for at least three months (APA).