PROBLEM 7

CONDUCT DISORDER
 ORIGINAL CASE
It was not surprising to many who knew Paul that at the age of 14 he would be attending the Juvenile
Court on charges related to violence towards others.

Paul was brought up by his grandmother after his mother left him there and migrated to the ‘States’
when he was two years old. She promised to send for him as soon as she was ‘legal’. However,
Paul’s grandmother always had difficulty coping with him, and Paul began to stay out late and get
into the wrong company from middle childhood.

His only male role model was an uncle who lived in the same house, and who pushed cocaine for a
living. He had previously used marijuana and smoked openly around Paul, on occasion sending Paul
to buy ‘weed’ for him from a nearby shop.

Paul did poorly in primary school, seemed to have a learning disability which was undiagnosed and
untreated, received a ‘late call’ to a Junior Secondary School, and is before the court because during
the school Panorama Competition was found with a knife in his possession. He threatened a student
with it , demanding his designer sneakers on the way home.

When interviewed , Paul stated that all he was trying to do was have an easy life palancing.
 CULTURALLY ENRICHED CASE
It was not surprising to many who knew Paul that at the age of 14 he would be attending the Juvenile Court on charges
related to violence towards others.1

Paul was brought up by his grandmother after his mother left him there and migrated to the ‘States’ when he was two
years old1. Before leaving for the US to ‘change her life’ Paul’s mother abused cocaine and marijuana.2 She promised
to send for him as soon as she was ‘legal’. However, Paul’s grandmother always had difficulty coping with him 3, and
Paul began to stay out late 4and get into the wrong company from middle childhood.5 His grandmother has been ill for
the past four months and is in and out of the hospital fairly often.1

His only male role model was an uncle who lived in the same house, and who pushed cocaine for a living 6. He had
previously used marijuana and smoked openly around Paul 7, on occasion sending Paul to buy ‘weed’ for him from a
nearby shop.8 His uncle does not want to support Paul’s grand mother in any way. 2Paul’s uncle brings women to the
house and mistreats them verbally and physically. 1Paul himself has had issues with his girlfriend who broke up with
him recently because of his sexual relationships with older women. 2In the past two years Paul has been selling cocaine
on the reqeust of his uncle.9

Paul did poorly in primary school ,seemed to have a learning disability which was undiagnosed and untreated,3 received
a ‘late call’ to a Junior Secondary School .It must be noted that he was bullied from the ages of 5-10 by his peers at
school10. He hardly attended school since the age of ten 2and when he did attend, Paul usually initiated fights at his
school3 and was considered a major bully at this point. 11His last report shows that he came in last in his class5 and
stated that Paul is inattentive,6 cannot concentrate 7and is disruptive in class8. Currently he is before the court because
during the school Panorama Competition was found with a knife in his possession9. He threatened a student with it10 ,
demanding his designer sneakers on the way home. 11

When interviewed , Paul stated that all he was trying to do was have an easy life palancing. However when probed more
deeply he says that he is angry and resentful all the time.12

• Presenting Complaints 12
• Precipitating Factors 2
• Predisposing Factors 11
• Perpetuating Factors 3
DIFFERENTIAL JUSTIFICATION CAUSES FACTORS THAT
DIAGNOSIS RULE OUT
DISORDER
CONDUCT 1.
DISORDER