What is Conduct Disorder?

This video describes conduct disorder (CD) as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). The symptom criteria for conduct disorder are divided into four categories. The first category is aggression to people and animals and there are seven symptom criteria in this category: threatens or intimidates others, often initiates physical fights, used a weapon to cause harm to another individual, demonstrated physical cruelty to people, demonstrated physical cruelty to animals, stolen while confronting a victim, and forced someone into sexual activity. The next category is destruction of property and this has two symptom criteria: set a fire with the intent of causing destruction, destroyed the property of others without involving fire. The next category is deceitfulness or theft and there are three symptom criteria here: broken into a house building or vehicle, often lies to obtain goods or to avoid obligations, stealing items without confrontation. The fourth category contains serious violations of rules and there are three symptom criteria: stays out all night, run away overnight at least twice or once if it's for lengthy period, and often truant from school. Three criteria have to be met in the last 12 months and at least one of those three has to also be met in the last six months. There also must be clinically significant impairment and if the individual is 18 years or older, that they do not meet the full criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Conduct disorder also has three subtypes: childhood onset type, adolescent onset type, and unspecified onset. There is also a “with limited pro-social emotions” specifier available.