Signs, symptoms, and treatment
We all make mistakes, don’t we? Especially when we’re kids. Yet, the mistakes we make are often one-offs, and we tend to be filled with guilt after the fact.
What if this isn’t the case for you or a teen in your life? Perhaps their behavior has been escalating to criminal activity or violence, and they seem to show no guilt for this. If you’re an adult witnessing this, it can be pretty distressing. We want the best for our children, and watching them go down the wrong path with no regrets can be scary.
If you’re experiencing this right now, the teen in your life could be struggling with a conduct disorder. But how do you know if it’s a conduct disorder? And what do you do about it if it is?
Below, we’ll answer all of your questions on teen conduct disorder, including the treatment options available, so you can give them the support they need.
Teens typically receive a diagnosis for conduct disorder when they show highly antisocial or aggressive behaviors. These behaviors tend to break laws and rules or violate other people’s rights. While we’d typically expect anyone showing these behaviors to feel guilty or upset afterward, this often isn’t the case for teens with conduct disorder. Those diagnosed with the condition tend to have little to no remorse for their actions and the consequences of these. This can be pretty disturbing and frustrating for those around them! However, it’s important to remember that conduct disorder is a mental health condition. Teens struggling with this disorder deserve compassion, kindness, and support as much as anyone else.
What’s more, the disregard for other people’s rights and property, as well as the aggression towards others, can make it very difficult for teens with conduct disorder to make and keep healthy friendships.3 These same behaviors can also strain family relationships, potentially leading to relationship breakdowns within the family unit.4
Teen conduct disorder is a complex condition that doesn’t have one clear-cut cause. Instead, a combination of genetic and environmental factors can make a conduct disorder diagnosis more likely. Let’s explore each in more depth:
Research into the genes associated with teen conduct disorder is still ongoing. However, experts highlight the following genes as potentially relevant6:
This is not an exhaustive or conclusive list, and more research is needed to fully understand the influences genetics has on conduct disorder in teens.
Environmental factors that may increase the risk of conduct disorder in teens are:
Domestic violence in the home
Teens might also be more at risk of conduct disorder if they struggle with developmental delays or experience a traumatic brain injury.
Finally, various mental health conditions have also been linked to teen conduct disorder. ADHD, anxiety, and depression all commonly co-occur with conduct disorder.7,8
However, it’s difficult to pinpoint whether teen conduct disorder leads to difficulties in mental health or the other way around.
As conduct disorder is a mental health condition, therapy is vital to help them cope. There are several types of therapy that are particularly useful for teens with conduct disorder. Let’s explore each below. However, as you’re reading through this list, remember that therapy is highly individual, and the best approach for your teen is unique to them.
Residential and inpatient programs offer a highly structured, stable environment where experienced mental health professionals are available at all times.
This treatment option works well for teens who are struggling with severe conduct disorder and whose symptoms are significantly disrupting their lives. It’s also an excellent treatment option if teens haven’t responded well to less intensive treatment methods.
At Mission Prep, we offer residential mental health programs for teens tailored to each individual’s symptoms and situation. We also offer support for a range of mental health difficulties, including conduct disorder, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and self-harm.
At Mission Prep, we provide CBT in individual, group, and family therapy settings, ensuring your teen gets the support that’s right for them.
Deep breathing
Giving teens with conduct disorder guidance on anger management, as well as the tools they need to calm themselves in moments of anger and stress, has proven highly effective.10
At Mission Prep, we understand the importance family plays in a teen’s life, so we prioritize family involvement in our treatment programs. This way, not only will the teen receive support and learn new coping strategies, but so will their family members.
This approach allows the whole family to work together, which can reduce the disruption the family experiences as a result of a teen’s conduct disorder.
Children with conduct disorder often struggle with the skills to regulate their emotions, which may be a factor leading to their antisocial and disruptive behavior.
In treatment programs such as those we offer at Mission Prep, teens learn effective ways to regulate their emotions and improve their social skills, allowing them to build healthy relationships and resolve conflicts in peaceful ways.
Teen conduct disorders are difficult for everyone involved: it’s incredibly tough for the teens trying to cope with the mental health condition and difficult for their loved ones to see their aggressive and disruptive behaviors.
It’s not easy knowing how to support a teen struggling with a conduct disorder. Fortunately, you don’t have to do so alone. At Mission Prep, we provide comprehensive support, not only for the teens affected by mental ill-health, but also for their loved ones.
If you’re a teen needing support or an adult looking to get caring, compassionate support for your child, know that we’re here to help. We also recognize that money is often on people’s minds when considering getting therapeutic help, which is why we provide comprehensive insurance coverage.
Reach out to us for support today.
Find out if Mission Prep is right for you by reaching out to us and speaking with one of our admissions representatives.
