Behavioural disorders in children

Oppositional defiant disorder

Around one in ten children under the age of 12 years are thought to have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), with boys outnumbering girls by two to one. Some of the typical behaviours of a child with ODD include:

Easily angered, annoyed or irritated
Frequent temper tantrums
Argues frequently with adults, particularly the most familiar adults in their lives, such as parents
Refuses to obey rules
Seems to deliberately try to annoy or aggravate others
Low self-esteem
Low frustration threshold
Seeks to blame others for any misfortunes or misdeeds.

Conduct disorder

Children with conduct disorder (CD) are often judged as ‘bad kids’ because of their delinquent behaviour and refusal to accept rules. Around five per cent of 10 year olds are thought to have CD, with boys outnumbering girls by four to one. Around one-third of children with CD also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Some of the typical behaviours of a child with CD may include:

Frequent refusal to obey parents or other authority figures
Repeated truancy
Tendency to use drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, at a very early age
Lack of empathy for others
Being aggressive to animals and other people or showing sadistic behaviours including bullying and physical or sexual abuse
Keenness to start physical fights
Using weapons in physical fights
Frequent lying
Criminal behaviour such as stealing, deliberately lighting fires, breaking into houses and vandalism
A tendency to run away from home
Suicidal tendencies – although these are more rare.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Around two to five per cent of children are thought to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with boys outnumbering girls by three to one. The characteristics of ADHD can include:

Inattention – difficulty concentrating, forgetting instructions, moving from one task to another without completing anything.
Impulsivity – talking over the top of others, having a ‘short fuse’, being accident-prone.
Overactivity – constant restlessness and fidgeting.

Risk factors in children’s behavioural disorders

The causes of ODD, CD and ADHD are unknown but some of the risk factors include:

Gender – boys are much more likely than girls to suffer from behavioural disorders. It is unclear if the cause is genetic or linked to socialisation experiences.
Gestation and birth – difficult pregnancies, premature birth and low birth weight may contribute in some cases to the child’s problem behaviour later in life.
Temperament – children who are difficult to manage, temperamental or aggressive from an early age are more likely to develop behavioural disorders later in life.
Family life – behavioural disorders are more likely in dysfunctional families. For example, a child is at increased risk in families where domestic violence, poverty, poor parenting skills or substance abuse are a problem.

Treatment of behavioural disorders in children

Untreated children with behavioural disorders may grow up to be dysfunctional adults. Generally, the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome is likely to be.

A large study in the United States, conducted for the National Institute of Mental Health and the Office of School Education Programs, showed that carefully designed medication management and behavioural treatment for ADHD improved all measures of behaviour in school and at home.

Treatment is usually multifaceted and depends on the particular disorder and factors contributing to it, but may include:

Parental education – for example, teaching parents how to communicate with and manage their children.
Family therapy – the entire family is helped to improve communication and problem-solving skills.
Cognitive behavioural therapy – to help the child to control their thoughts and behaviour.
Social training – the child is taught important social skills, such as how to have a conversation or play cooperatively with others.
Anger management – the child is taught how to recognise the signs of their growing frustration and given a range of coping skills designed to defuse their anger and aggressive behaviour. Relaxation techniques and stress management skills are also taught.
Encouragement – many children with behavioural disorders experience repeated failures at school and in their interactions with others. Encouraging the child to excel in their particular talents (such as sport) can help to build self-esteem.