Clinical features

The principle feature is one of persistent abnormal conduct - the condition is usually first manifested as abnormal conduct in the home, for example stealing, lying, verbal and physical violence. Later the condition is manifest in behaviour outside the home, for example truancy, delinquency, reckless behaviour, alcohol and drug abuse.

More details concerning the clinical features of conduct disorders at different stages of childhood are as follows:

Pre-school period:

• aggression towards other children
• rebellion against parents
• temper tantrums
• there may be overactivity, short attention span and impulsiveness

Middle childhood:

• aggressive behaviour is characterised by physically attacking other children and sometimes parents
• stealing, either in groups or alone, from 6-7 yr on
• persistent lying
• disruption at school - disobedience and sometimes the beginnings of truancy
• very rarely firesetting may occur at school or at home

Adolescence:

• physical aggression
• breaking into property, stealing, vandalism
• truancy
• drug taking, especially solvent abuse
• promiscuity or disapproved sexual behaviour