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Module 3 Activity 2: A Closer Look at Social and Emotional Disabilities

Anxiety Disorder and Conduct Disorder
Jean Kang

Anxiety Disorder

Definition

Anxiety disorder is the disorder that some people suffer from excessive irritation or fear

persistently, usually over 6 months(nimh.nih.gov). The emotion of worries or fear is

usually from school, work, social interaction, daily situations, and other factors in life.

And this anxiety impedes to work, study, social activities, and many daily activities.

Prevalence in Children

One in eight children in the U.S. has anxiety according to the Anxiety Disorders

Association of America (Huffpost.com). There is 17% increase in anxiety in children in

the past 10 years(weareteachers.com), but only 1% of these children seek medical help

in the first year when they suffered from it. So, teachers are likely to see more students

with anxiety in schools and classrooms each year.

Characteristics/Types

There are different types of anxiety disorders (nimh.nih.gov), including generalized

disorder, panic disorder, and phobia related disorder such as social phobia. Generalized

disorder is characterized with irritable and restless feeling, fatigue, hard time with

concentration, excessive worries, tension in muscles and sleep disorders. Panic

disorder is characterized with accelerated heartrate, sweating, shaking, feeling of out of

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control, shortness of breath, etc. There are different types of phobic disorders. One

example is social phobia, the person with it is feared of social occasions, or displays

withdrawal.

Causes

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to all types of anxiety disorders

(parentcenterhub.com). A person with relatives with anxiety disorder may be more

inclined to have it. Stressful and negative life experience can trigger or aggravate it.

Some medical issues such as thyroid problems may also trigger or aggravate anxiety.

Teaching Consideration

Weareteachers.com offers tips on how to accommodate students with anxiety. First, we

need to understand that students with anxiety disorder are not self-controllable. It is a

medical issue and the students suffering from it need medical treatment. We can adopt

some strategies to help these students in classrooms. Some strategies are as follows.

• Practice breathing.

• Offer exercise time.

• Go outdoors.

• Train students to have a gratitude journal.

• Suggestions for diet change.

• Have a chilling corner.

• Use applications such as GoNoodle to take brain breaks.

(thecornerstoneforteachers.com)
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There are many other techniques and teachers can be creative in solutions for

relaxation to reduce anxiety level in students as well.

One Other Interesting Finding

Students with anxiety may not have obvious signs such as sweating or shaking.

Teachers can be trained to identify the underlying signs, such as acting out, sudden

yelling, storming out the classroom, and other impulsive or disruptive behavioral

problems(wearetteachers.com). Students with anxiety disorder often have hard time

learning and retaining knowledge (Huffpost.com) as well.

Conduct Disorder

Definition

Conduct disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in children. It

is characterized with repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviors that often violate

societal rules or others’ rights (healthline.com). It normally starts at childhood or

adolescence. Children with conduct disorder often display aggression, or cruelty to

others that others think they are “bad”. It is not only a behavior problem, more seriously

it is a mental illness.

Prevalence in Children

Conduct disorder is more common in boys than girls. It is about 6-16% among boys in

the general population, and 2-9% in girls (mhanational.org).

Characteristics/Types
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Conduct disorder can be childhood onset (before age 10) or adolescent onset (after age

10). Conduct disorder person often demonstrate the following (Healthline.com).

• Aggressive behavior, such as bullying, or using a weapon.

• Destructive behavior, such as damaging properties.

• Deceitful behavior, such as lying or stealing.

• Violation of rules, such as truancy or drug use.

Depending on the symptoms, it can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Causes

The causes of conduct disorder can be genetic, brain damage to the frontal lobe, or

environmental. The environmental causes include poverty, family member using drugs,

child abuse, and others (healthline.com).

Teaching Consideration

Students with conduct disorder like to argue. It is crucial for teachers to keep calm and

detached manner to avoid escalation all the time, especially when there is a potential of

argument. The following strategies are suggested in the classroom (aecsd.education)

1. Rules. Keep clear and firm rules. Let students participate in rule making.

2. Curriculum. Teach appropriate level of curriculum to maximize students’

performance and offer praise sincerely.

3. Keep cool, calm, and detached to avoid argument, avoid escalating.

4. Give options in giving assignments.

5. Use technology.

6. Structure opportunities for students with conduct disorder to participate.

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The above are the most important aspects. There are more strategies available to

teachers.

One Other Interesting Finding

Conduct disorder once diagnosed needs medication. It can be associated with other

disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional

Defiant Disorder (ODD). ODD with the symptoms as negative, defiant, disobedient, and

hostile behavior and conflicts with teachers, parents, and peers, is normally a precursor

of conduct disorder (uspharmacists.com).

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References

Anxiety disorders. (N.D.) Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

Conduct disorder. (N.D.) Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.healthline.com/health/conduct-disorder#symptoms

Conduct disorder fact sheet. (2014) Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

http://www.aecsd.education/tfiles/folder1488/Fact%20Sheet_ConductDisorder14.pd

Conduct disorder. (N.D.) Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.mhanational.org/conditions/conduct-disorder

Emotional disturbance. (2017) Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.parentcenterhub.org/emotionaldisturbance/

Kiwi, R., & Legg, T.J. (2017) Conduct disorder. Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.healthline.com/health/conduct-disorder

Minahan, J. (2012) Anxiety: the hidden disability that affects one in eight children.

Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anxietythe-hidden-disabil_b_1474089

Mohan, L, & Ray, S. (2020) Conduct disorder. Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470238/

10 Ways to help students who struggle with anxiety. (2019) Retrieved on July 19,2020

from

https://www.weareteachers.com/7-ways-to-help-students-who-struggle-with-

anxiety/
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Woodard, T.J., Ume, U., Davis, R. An introduction to opposition defiant disorder and

conduct disorder. U.S. Pharmacist., 2019 (Nov). Retrieved on July 19,2020 from

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/an-introduction-to-oppositional-defiant-

disorder-and-conduct-disorder