Many children or young people show difficult behaviour which causes concern for their parents, teachers or community. Behaviour is related to a child's developmental stage and environment and is also influenced by the individual's own personality. In most cases, occurrences of troublesome behaviour are mild or infrequent and will resolve over time.
Children or young people who are in adverse life situations (such as abuse, extreme poverty, high crime areas) may adopt this kind of behaviour as a response to their environment, rather than because they have a disorder. Disruptive behaviour disorders include:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder - a pattern of defiant, disobedient and hostile behaviour toward authority figures over at least 6 months. The child frequently loses his or her temper, argues with authority figures, refuses to follow requests or rules and may deliberately do things to annoy others.
Conduct Disorder - a pattern of behaviour over 6 to 12 months in which the person shows no regard for social norms or rules, or for the rights of others. Behaviour includes aggression toward people or animals, property damage, serious violation of rules, deceitfulness or theft.
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD - several sub-types, with the main features being inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Behaviour is more frequent than peers and should be evident before age of 7, although may not be diagnosed until later.
It is difficult to measure the prevalence of these disorders. Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder have been reported to occur in 2% to 16% of children and young people. ADHD occurs in 3% to 5% of school-aged children, but there has been controversy in recent years regarding reports of higher rates of diagnosis.
Both genetics and the environment have been implicated in the development of behaviour disorders. These disorders appear to be more common in families with significant marital problems, or a parental history of disruptive behaviour, personality disorders or substance disorders.
In general, a child or youth with a history of disruptive behaviour disorders is more likely to have academic problems at school and may be at greater risk of social and mental health problems later in life, such as substance use, depression and anxiety, and criminal or risk taking behaviour. Management of behaviour disorders is usually approached using a combination of behaviour modification, professional support and medical intervention.
Children or young people who are in adverse life situations (such as abuse, extreme poverty, high crime areas) may adopt this kind of behaviour as a response to their environment, rather than because they have a disorder. Disruptive behaviour disorders include:
Oppositional Defiant Disorder - a pattern of defiant, disobedient and hostile behaviour toward authority figures over at least 6 months. The child frequently loses his or her temper, argues with authority figures, refuses to follow requests or rules and may deliberately do things to annoy others.
Conduct Disorder - a pattern of behaviour over 6 to 12 months in which the person shows no regard for social norms or rules, or for the rights of others. Behaviour includes aggression toward people or animals, property damage, serious violation of rules, deceitfulness or theft.
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD - several sub-types, with the main features being inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Behaviour is more frequent than peers and should be evident before age of 7, although may not be diagnosed until later.
It is difficult to measure the prevalence of these disorders. Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder have been reported to occur in 2% to 16% of children and young people. ADHD occurs in 3% to 5% of school-aged children, but there has been controversy in recent years regarding reports of higher rates of diagnosis.
Both genetics and the environment have been implicated in the development of behaviour disorders. These disorders appear to be more common in families with significant marital problems, or a parental history of disruptive behaviour, personality disorders or substance disorders.
In general, a child or youth with a history of disruptive behaviour disorders is more likely to have academic problems at school and may be at greater risk of social and mental health problems later in life, such as substance use, depression and anxiety, and criminal or risk taking behaviour. Management of behaviour disorders is usually approached using a combination of behaviour modification, professional support and medical intervention.
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