What are the causes and symptoms of conduct disorder?
There are two sub-types of CD, one beginning in childhood and the other in adolescence. There is no known cause. Researchers and physicians suggest that this disease may be caused by the following: • poor parent-child relationships • dysfunctional families • drug abuse • physical abuse • poor relationships with other children • cognitive problems leading to school failures • brain damage • biological defects Difficulty in school is an early sign of potential conduct disorder problems. While the patient’s IQ tends to be in the normal range, they can have trouble with verbal and abstract reasoning skills and may lag behind their classmates, and consequently, feel as if they don’t “fit in.” The frustration and loss of self-esteem resulting from this academic and social inadequacy can trigger the development of CD. A dysfunctional home environment can be another major contributor to CD. An emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive home environment, a family history of antisocial persona
