Conduct Disorder? Let's start early detection!

Ever notice children having behaviour problem and failing to follow rules? Behaviour-related problem are usually common to see in children during the development stages, however when does it consider as a disorder?

When the behaviour persist for a long time, when it poses harm to others and when the behaviour disrupt the child's education, social and family everyday life. It is time to consider!

What is Conduct Disorder?

Conduct Disorder (CD) is a mental health condition whereby persistent pattern of behaviour and emotional problem occur in children and adolescence.

The symptoms that has to look into:

• Aggressive to people and animals

• Vandalism

• Theft and frequent lying

• Violation of rules

Children with conduct disorder may also have difficulty to understand how their behaviour can hurt others and often shows lack of empathy and guilt for affecting others.

Who can influence the child?

• Parents

• Family members

• Extended families

• Neighbours

• Teachers

• Peers

Aware of the child environment!

The interaction within these environment are bidirectional influences. The environment that the child living may contribute to have higher or lesser risk of the child having Conduct Disorder. Depending on how the peoples in the child surrounding provide the right support. While in the other hand, the child may poses harm to the people's in the environment surrounding if not manage correctly (bully, vandalism, stealing, cruel to animals).

How to manage the behaviour?

Role model- Children always perceive and re-enact in actions. Presents a good role model in front of the child to cultivate good behaviour.

Rewards straight away– Observe if the child performing any positive social behaviour, immediate reward by praising or compliment to reinforce the positive behaviour.

Cool down- Encourage children to tell about how they feel, things that make them feel better and how to behave appropriately when encounter different situations.

When to seek help?

Symptoms seems to match with the child, have a visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist to have a correct diagnosis. The earlier to get help and diagnosed, the higher the success rate of the therapy. When left untreated, the severity may escalate and more incident may occur as they grow older.

Let’s get the professional to guide and manage the behaviour in a healthier way!