Adolescents and Conduct Disorders

Conduct disorders are often very damaging to the quality of life of the young people who develop them.

One of the main psychological problems that many adolescents present is the fact that they suffer from conduct disorders..

In general, they tend to appear more in boys than in girls, and have a very significant impact on several areas of their lives: school performance drops, family and social relationships are damaged, and of course, young people suffer in this situation.

Conduct disorders begin in childhood

It is an erroneous belief that these disorders of the young people are born during the adolescence. In this stage it is when they are more evident because they become more acute.But since childhood, the conduct disorder is there, in a latent state. Sometimes the symptoms are so severe that it is very difficult to deal with them. For this, it is best to rely on professionals with experience in the field.

Although these behaviors do occur and can be diagnosed, the origin of these kinds of psychological disturbances is not well understood.. However, some risk factors are known, such as certain personality and temperament types, genetic aspects and those of the environment in which the youngster is raised and lives, etc.

The main behavioral disorders in adolescents have always been the following: adhd (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) and CD (conduct disorder or dissocial disorder). However, ADHD has been considered a neurodevelopmental disorder for some time now.

Adolescents and conduct disorders: the variants of this problem

Although, as we have pointed out, ADHD is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, we are going to include it in this classification, since it affects many young people and has a powerful influence on their behavior. Let us now look at the three we have mentioned above.

1. ADHD

This disorder is neurobiological, as it is caused by a lack of regulation of neurotransmitters. This affects the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system, which is why it has been included in the list of neurodevelopmental disorders. Nevertheless, it often brings many young people for consultation.

A typical symptomatology of ADHD is constant hyperactivity, inability to sustain attention for long periods of time and excessive impulsivity.. This causes the young person to be unable to think before acting. Likewise, this behavioral disorder also involves lack of self-control, lack of willpower or lack of tolerance to feeling frustrated.

2. TDN

Oppositional defiant disorder is a pattern that lasts at least 6 months. During this period, the youngster experiences a state of mind marked by aggressiveness, irritability, as well as by disobedience and a feeling of revenge.. This disorder can be reflected in the adolescent's behavior not only towards his or her closest circle.

According to the DSM-5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, BDD carries a risk of developing severe anxiety and depression.

3. BT or Behavioral Disorder

The consequences of BD or behavioral disorder take the form of behavior that is repeated in the young person, causing him/her to disrespect the basic rights of others, social conventions, laws, and the environment.The consequences of BT or conduct disorder are reflected in behavior that is repeated in the young person, causing him/her to disrespect the basic rights of others, social conventions, laws or simply the rules imposed by others, such as parents. In addition, it often brings with it a problem of drug addiction.

Treatment of behavioral disorders in adolescents

The diagnosis of all these psychological phenomena is based on the evaluation of the set of symptoms by a professional. It should be considered that children and adolescents are more likely to manifest symptoms of mental illness because altered behaviors are identified. because altered behaviors are identified and, therefore, in the face of so-called misbehavior it is important to analyze whether there is a deeper underlying cause.

The only occasion in which psychopharmacological treatment is recommended is in the most difficult cases and in those in which other ADHD treatment has not worked. However, in these cases, evaluation and intervention by qualified professionals is necessary.

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