title: Conduct disorder: diagnosis and treatment in primary care.
abstract: Conduct disorder is a common childhood psychiatric problem that has an increased incidence in adolescence. The primary diagnostic features of conduct disorder include aggression, theft, vandalism, violations of rules and/or lying. For a diagnosis, these behaviors must occur for at least a six-month period. Conduct disorder has a multifactorial etiology that includes biologic, psychosocial and familial factors. The differential diagnosis of conduct disorder includes oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorder and intermittent explosive disorder. Family physicians may provide brief, behaviorally focused parent counseling, pharmacotherapy and referral for more intensive family and individual psychotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine of St Louis Residency Program, Missouri 63139, USA.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Searight
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rottnek
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Abby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy