Disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) are a group of behavioral disorders in which there are patterns of ongoing uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behaviors toward authority figures that seriously impacts a child’s daily functioning. When a child’s family experiences their child disrupting activities, ignoring the rules, erupting in defiance, or goading others, every member feels the impact. A parent may feel helpless to control their child’s anger, unsure how to appropriately respond, or how to restore a sense of peace and harmony to the home. The most common types of disruptive behavior disorders include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder. The main difference between these two disorders is the severity of the symptoms; conduct disorder is often considered the more serious of the two disorders.

The causes for disruptive behavior disorders are thought to be a mixture of different factors working together. Some of the common risk factors include:

Physical: Children who were born of low birth weight or those who suffered neurological damage are at a greater risk for developing disruptive behavior disorders.

Environmental: Children who were rejected by their mothers as infants, separated from their parents, or obtained poor foster care are at an increased risk for DBDs. Additionally, children who were physically, emotionally, or sexually abused or neglected are at higher risk for developing these disorders later in childhood. Children who lived in poverty or witnessed domestic violence or substance abuse are also at a greater risk for developing the disorder.

Psychological: Children who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are at a higher risk for developing disruptive behavior disorders.

The symptoms of disruptive behavior disorders will vary based upon the type of disruptive behavioral disorder a child has – oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder – as well as individual temperament, social skills, and coping mechanisms. The most common symptoms of disruptive behavior disorders include:

Behavioral Symptoms:

• Antisocial behaviors

• Sociopathic tendencies that cause serious harm to others

• Often loses temper with others

• Argues with adults

• Actively defies or refuses to comply with requests or rules

• Blames others for his or her mistakes

• Deliberately annoys other people

• Aggressive and cruel toward people and animals

• Deliberately intimidates other people

• Makes deliberate attempts to annoy others

• Bullying

• Revenge-seeking behaviors

• Lying

• Stealing

• Conniving

• Willful destruction of property

Cognitive Symptoms:

• Lack of problem-solving skills

Physical Symptoms:

• Physical abuse of others

Psychosocial Symptoms:

• Child frightens and alienates friends, family, and peers

• Intensely rigid and touchy

• Lack of remorse

• Easily annoyed

• Loneliness

• Anger

• Spiteful and vindictive

• Resentfulness

• Feelings as though they have nothing to lose by engaging in illegal or dangerous behaviors

 

 

 

http://www.ascentchs.com/mental-health/disruptive-behavior/symptoms-signs-effects/