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Difference Between Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Conduct Disorder (CD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) are two types of behavioral disorders that can occur in children and adolescents. Although these disorders share some similarities, they are different in terms of their symptoms, causes, and treatments. Understanding the difference between these two disorders is crucial in determining the appropriate intervention and support for affected individuals.
What is Conduct Disorder?
According to the DSM 5, CD is a “repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated”. The manual furthered that the following criteria should be met in the past 12 months.
The individual often does the following −
Aggression to People and Animals
Bullying, intimidating, or threatening
Initiating physical fights
Using weapons which can cause serious harm
Physically cruel to people and animals
Stealing with confrontation like extortion and mugging
Sexual harassment
Destruction of Property
Setting fire with the intention of harm
Destroying others’ property aside from setting fire
Deceitfulness or Theft
Breaking into a property
Lying for selfish reasons
Stealing without confrontation like shoplifting
What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?
The DSM 5 states that ODD has at least four of the following diagnostic criteria which lasts for at least six months and is manifested during non-sibling interaction.
The individual often manifests the following −
Angry/Irritable Mood
Losing one’s temper
Getting easily annoyed
Feels resentful or angry
Argumentative/Defiant Behavior
Arguing with others
Defying rules or requests
Annoying others deliberately
Blaming others for one’s mistakes
Vindictiveness
Being spiteful
Differences: Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder
One of the key differences between Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder is the nature of the behavior. CD is characterized by aggressive, destructive, and antisocial behavior, while ODD is characterized by defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior. Children with CD tend to be more physically aggressive and may engage in criminal activities, whereas children with ODD tend to be more verbally aggressive and may engage in noncompliant behaviors.
Another difference between the two disorders is their onset and course. Conduct Disorder often starts in childhood and may persist into adulthood if left untreated. Children with CD may exhibit early signs of disruptive behavior, such as lying, stealing, and fighting. As they get older, their behavior may become more serious, and they may engage in more severe forms of delinquency, such as arson, burglary, and assault. In contrast, Oppositional Defiant Disorder typically develops in early childhood and may improve over time, especially with the right treatment and support. Children with ODD may have difficulty regulating their emotions and may exhibit defiant and oppositional behavior in response to stress or frustration.
The causes of Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder also differ. Conduct Disorder is believed to have both genetic and environmental factors. Children with a family history of CD are more likely to develop the disorder, and exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or other forms of trauma can increase the risk. In contrast, ODD is believed to be primarily a result of environmental factors, such as inconsistent or harsh parenting, a lack of positive reinforcement, and a chaotic or unstable home environment.
Treatment for Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder also varies. For CD, a combination of medication and therapy may be needed, depending on the severity of the behavior. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in reducing aggressive behavior in children with CD, and family therapy can also be helpful in improving communication and reducing conflict within the family. For ODD, behavioral therapy and parent management training are the primary treatments. These interventions focus on teaching children and parents strategies for managing behavior, improving communication, and reducing conflict.
The following table highlights the major differences between Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder −
Characteristics |
Conduct Disorder |
Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
|---|---|---|
Diagnostic Criteria |
The diagnostic criteria for CD are aggression, destruction, deceitfulness or theft, and serious violations. |
On the other hand, those for ODD are angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant, and vindictiveness. |
Physical Violence |
It can be observed from the respective criteria of the disorders that CD is more characterized by physical violence as compared to ODD. The former includes physical fights, mugging, rape, and arson while the latter generally deals with upset moods, nonconformity, and spitefulness. |
It can be observed from the respective criteria of the disorders that ODD is less characterized by physical violence as compared to CD. |
Duration of Symptoms |
Symptoms of CD must last for at least 12 months with at least one criterion being met in the past 6 months. Generally, it will take a longer observation time for the diagnosis of CD to be finalized. |
The symptoms of ODD must last for at least 6 months. |
Severity |
As for CD, the severity is marked according to the frequency and extent of conduct problems. It is mild if there are few conduct issues which cause only minor harm, moderate if the occurrence of conduct problems is intermediate between mild and severe, and severe if there are many conduct problems and considerable harm is done. |
The diagnosis for ODD is specified to be mild if the symptoms are merely confined to a certain setting, moderate if manifested in 2 settings, and severe if present in at least three settings. |
Subtypes |
There are three subtypes for conduct disorder: childhood-onset type, adolescent-onset type, and unspecified-onset type. |
On the other hand, oppositional defiant disorder has no specified subtypes. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder are two types of behavioral disorders that can occur in children and adolescents. Although they share some similarities, they differ in terms of their symptoms, causes, and treatments. Conduct Disorder is characterized by aggressive and antisocial behavior.
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