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PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT

CONDUCT DISORDERS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to
my teacher who gave me the golden opportunity to do
this wonderful project of psychology on conduct
disorders. This project made me aware of this disorder
and I’m grateful for the knowledge I gained.
Secondly,I would like to express my gratitude for all the
people who did the survey without which I could not
have completed this project
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Lastly,I would like to thank my friends and family who

helped me complete this project within the limited time
frame.

INDEX
S.no topic Pg no
1 Introduction
2 Symptoms
2.1 Aggressive behaviour
2.2 Destructive behaviour
2.3 Deceitful behaviour
2.4 Violation of rules
3 Causes
4 Diagnosis
5 Treatment
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6 Methods of enquiry
6.1 Case study
6.2 Survey
7 Conclusion
8 Bibliography

INTRODUCTION
The terms Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour refer to
age inappropriate actions and attitudes that violate family
expectations, societal norms, and the personal or property
rights of others. The behaviours typical of conduct disorder
include aggressive actions that cause or threaten harm to
people or animals, non-aggressive conduct that causes property
damage, major deceitfulness or theft, and serious rule
violations.
In their earlier years, they may show early signs of aggression,
including pushing, hitting and biting others. Adolescents and
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teens with conduct disorder may move into more serious

behaviors, including bullying, hurting animals, picking fights,
theft, vandalism and arson.
Children with conduct disorder can be found across all races,
cultures and socioeconomic groups. They often have other
mental health issues as well that may contribute to the
development of the conduct disorder. The disorder is more
prevalent in boys than girls. It can have early onset before age
10, but commonly develops in adolescence (between ages 10
years to 19 years).

SYMPTOMS
Aggressive behavior

these are behaviors that threaten or cause physical harm and may
include:

 Often bullies, threatens or intimidates others

 Often initiates physical fights
 Has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others
(e.g., a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun)
 Has been physically cruel to people
 Has been physically cruel to animals
 Has stolen while confronting a victim (e.g., mugging, purse
snatching, extortion, armed robbery)

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 Has forced someone into sexual activity (rape or molestation)

 Feels no remorse or empathy towards the harm, fear, or pain they
may have inflicted on others.

Destructive behavior
 Has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of
causing serious damage
 Has deliberately destroyed others' property (other than by fire
setting).

Deceitful behavior
 Has broken into someone else's house, building, or car
 Often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligations (i.e.,
"cons" others)
 Has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim
(e.g., shoplifting, but without breaking and entering; forgery)

Violation of rules
 Often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning
before age 13 years
 Has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in
parental or parental surrogate home (or once without returning
for a lengthy period)
 Is often truant from school, beginning before age 13 years.

In addition, many children with conduct disorder are irritable, have low
self-esteem, and tend to throw frequent temper tantrums. Some may
abuse drugs and alcohol. Children with conduct disorder often are
unable to appreciate how their behavior can hurt others and generally
have little guilt or remorse about hurting others.

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CAUSES:
The exact cause of conduct disorder is not known, but it is believed that
a combination of biological, genetic, environmental, psychological, and
social factors play a role.

 Biological: Some studies suggest that defects or injuries to certain

areas of the brain can lead to behavior disorders. Conduct
disorder has been linked to particular brain regions involved in
regulating behavior, impulse control, and emotion. Conduct
disorder symptoms may occur if nerve cell circuits along these
brain regions do not work properly. Further, many children and
teens with conduct disorder also have other mental illnesses, such
as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning
disorders, depression, substance abuse, or an anxiety disorder,
which may contribute to the symptoms of conduct disorder.

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 Genetics: Many children and teens with conduct disorder have

close family members with mental illnesses, including mood
disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and
personality disorders. This suggests that a vulnerability to conduct
disorder may be at least partially inherited.
 Environmental: Factors such as a dysfunctional family life,
childhood abuse, traumatic experiences, a family history of
substance abuse, and inconsistent discipline by parents may
contribute to the development of conduct disorder.
 Psychological: Some experts believe that conduct disorders can
reflect problems with moral awareness (notably, lack of guilt and
remorse) and deficits in cognitive processing.
 Social: Low socioeconomic status and not being accepted by their
peers appear to be risk factors for the development of conduct
disorder.

DIAGNOSIS:
A child psychiatrist, psychologist, or other qualified mental health
professional usually diagnoses conduct disorders in children and teens
by completing:

 A detailed history of the child's behavior, as well as relevant

biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors, which are
identified during a clinical interview with the child and caregivers.
 A review of historical data such as school records, court/child
welfare records, past treatment records, and interviews with
collaterals.
 Additional information can also be obtained via the following:
 Observations of the child's behavior.

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 Psychological testing.
TREATMENT:
Treatment can be complex and challenging. And it can last for several
months. Children with conduct disorder tend to be uncooperative with
others. They often fear and distrust adults. And adding to the
complication is the fact that conduct disorder is often (but not always)
diagnosed along with a number of other psychological conditions.
Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general
health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

Treatment for conduct disorder may include:

 Cognitive-behavioral therapy. A child learns how to better solve

problems, communicate, and handle stress. He or she also learns
how to control impulses and anger.
 Family therapy. This therapy helps make changes in the family. It
improves communication skills and family interactions.
 Peer group therapy. A child develops better social and
interpersonal skills.
 Medicines. These are not often used to treat conduct disorder.
But a child may need them for other symptoms or disorders, such
as ADHD.

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METHODS
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OF
ENQUIRY

CASE STUDY
Conduct Disorder – 14 Year Old Raj
Fourteen year old Raj, was brought to the clinic by his father. It was
noticed that he entered the chambers rather reluctantly and plonked
himself on a patient chair, his head bending down and sitting carelessly.
His father started narrating about his son’s conduct disorder.
Family Background
Raj is their only child who was born after ten years of marriage. Parents
underwent infertility treatment and he was conceived in second IVF
cycle. Mother had endometriosis and hypothyroidism, while father did
not have any major health conditions. During pregnancy the mother
had severe hyperemesis; otherwise all other parameters were within
normal parameters. The child was born full term with help of elective C-
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section, birth cry was immediate and weight was two and half
kilograms. As per parents his milestones were all normal and he had a
healthy childhood except for mild colds occasionally.
On closer questioning they remembered that the child had mild
measles episode when he was about ten months old and chickenpox
when he was three years. They also said that from childhood he was
very obstinate, he would keep food in his mouth for hours together;
nobody could force him to complete it. If mother was missing for some
time he would wail loudly till she comes in spite of other relatives trying
to console him. In studies he was good till class three when due to
father’s job they shifted to another city from that time they have
noticed changes in his behavior.
PATIENT HISTORY
Raj lacked focus while studying, class works use to be incomplete.
Teachers complained that he was disturbing other children in class. He
would not inform parents about what happened in school, he would
hide his exam answer sheets. Initially they attributed the change in him
to new environment and thought he would overcome it. But instead, as
his age increasing he became more aggressive. If his parents scolded
him he would shout back, show anger by banging on doors and crying
loudly.
He had poor sportsman spirit, if he lost in any game would throw
tantrums and used abusive words. Father also said he liked expensive
items, at the same time he was affectionate and if any friend needs his
help he would go out of the way to help him. He displayed emotions
like jealousy and possessiveness; liked wearing branded clothing and
expensive gadgets. When enquired about his behavior at school, the
father revealed that in school, he would often complain that other

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children are troubling him and would indulge in frequent fights with
them.
He would hide his answer sheets/report cards, would not inform
parents of school activities, would take other children belongings
without asking and academically was average. He likes music, especially
fast beat songs, and cricket. He had no known fears, in fact he would
tease and trouble stray dogs. He would take fancy to expensive looking
gadgets and few times parents noticed that they would be stuff in it
which does not belong to him but on enquiry he would say someone
has given it to him. He had the habit of lying smoothly that it was
difficult for the parents to know if he was saying the truth or not.
Remaining physical generals like appetite, thirst, bowels were within
normal parameters. Dr. Reddy then interacted with the child; it was
observed that on little provocation he would become very agitated. He
was almost ready to hit his father in anger in clinic chambers. The child
was diagnosed with Conduct Disorder (CD).
Diagnosis
As the name suggests, conduct disorder patients do not know how to
conduct themselves in society. Our society has expected rules and
norms of behavior, but in this condition the child finds it difficult to
adhere to them. It is usually displayed or begins in teenage years and
these children are often labelled as ill-mannered. They have a tendency
towards sudden violent outbursts, fail to adhere to rules and generally
are trouble makers. One should not confuse conduct disorder with
typical teenage/ child tantrums.
Prognosis
The children suffering from CD display aggressiveness, they may come
across as a bully in school/college, may indulge in unwanted activities
like robbing, shop lifting, telling lies frequently, beating/hitting others,

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rioting, etc. They don’t show respect towards their teachers or parents
and often are belligerent in their behavior. Some may also be involved
in activities like drug abuse, sexual misconduct, alcoholism and other
pervasive behaviors. The behavior may in some not displayed very
overtly and may be more subtle like emotional manipulation, running
away from home, frequent absentism and being duplicitious in
behavior while in some it may be more expressive outwardly like
indulging in vandalism, shoplifting or engaging in quarrels, etc.
Why it occurs in few no one is sure but mostly it seems to be a
combination of multiple factors: genetics, birth history, social
environment and upbringing, seems to play a major role. Most often CD
is associated with other behavioral problems like ADHD, anxiety, and
mood disorder, etc.
Homeopathy Treatment for Conduct Disorder

There are no conventional medications for conduct disorder. Therapies

and counselling’s help to some extent. Homeopathy treatment helps
children with behavioral disorders to a great extent. It’s medicines
which are given based on their mind symptom, family, birth and past
history, social and emotional and physical generals like their likes,
dislikes, sleep pattern, dreams etc. well selected remedy act deep at
the root level correcting the imbalances thereby bringing emotional
stability and improvement in their conditions.
Causes and Treatment for Conduct Disorder

In Raj case mother’s hypothyroidism, the hormonal treatment taken for

conceiving and medications taken during pregnancy was taken as root
cause and infections as well as vaccinations to be the trigger. Based on
the symptoms described by the parents and our observations a single
dose of the Similimum was given followed by regular medications and
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was regular follow up. In six to seven months’ time parents reported
that his anger and temper tantrums reduced to a great extent, he was
more forthcoming and the school also informed parents about his
improved behavior. Medications were continued for another one year.
By the end of the treatment the child improved a lot in his behavior and
the parents were very happy.

SURVEY

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ANALYSIS OF DATA

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CONCLUSION
Case study: Raj, a 14-year-old grappling with Conduct Disorder (CD),
presented a complex array of behavioral challenges encompassing
disruptive conduct, aggressiveness, materialistic inclinations, and a
disregard for societal norms. Utilizing the principles of homeopathy, a
treatment approach guided by individualized remedies, Raj's disruptive
behaviors were targeted. Through consistent and tailored interventions,
spanning several months, Raj's aggressive tendencies and outbursts
gradually abated. This translated into tangible improvements in his
school performance and overall demeanor within his familial context.
The etiology of Conduct Disorder remains multifaceted, involving
intricate interplays of genetic susceptibilities, birth circumstances, and
social environment. This case underscores the potential of early
identification and personalized therapeutic strategies in mitigating the
impacts of CD. By addressing the intricate interplay of factors
influencing behavior, a comprehensive approach seeks to pave the way
for positive outcomes in individuals grappling with this complex
disorder.

Survey: This survey was done among 32 people aged 10-18 . 9.4% of
the people are threatening.22.6% people initiates fights. 12.5% uses
weapons that may cause serious injuries. 12.5% of the people is cruel to
animals. 9.4% forces other people into having sexual activities with

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them. 12.5% of people set things on fire with the purpose of destroying
them. 31.3% lies in order to obtain favours.
12.5% spends the night outside despite parents prohibitions. 34.4% gets
angry easily. An alarming rate of 46.9% of people acts impulsively.
12.5% people does not show any respect for other people.34.4% seem
unable to foresee the consequences of their actions. 15.6% tends to
manipulate other people for their own gains.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://positiveautism.com/conduct-disorder-case-study-raj/
https://www.noanxiety.com/tests/conduct-disorder-test.html

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https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/conduct-disorder
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/conduct-disorders#:~:text=Conduct%20disorder
%20refers%20to%20a,hostile%20and%20sometimes%20physically%20violent.
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-conduct-disorder
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/conduct-disorders

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