ADHD or Conduct Disorder? Let's understand exactly the difference in your child's behavior (ADHD vs. Conduct Disorder)

As a mother or father, you may be familiar with these things. A young child may not stay in one place, may be constantly fidgeting, may run around, may talk excessively, or may not want to wait their turn. These are actually normal behaviors of a child. However, in some children, the difficulty in getting attention and restlessness do not decrease with time as we would expect. This may be a symptom of a condition called ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). However, there are some children who go beyond this mischief and deliberately hurt others, behave violently, skip school, steal, and engage in antisocial behavior. This may be a different condition called Conduct Disorder.

Both of these conditions are common behavioral problems seen in childhood. Sometimes, the same child may have both conditions. Therefore, it is very important for you as a parent to understand the difference between the two.

How do the symptoms of ADHD and Conduct Disorder differ?

The symptoms of both these conditions are very different from each other. Simply put, the main problem of a child with ADHD is difficulty maintaining attention and hyperactivity. But a child with Conduct Disorder is completely different. We may see that the child is deliberately trying to hurt others and destroy things. Let's look at these symptoms separately.

Now you have a rough idea of ​​what ADHD is. But Conduct Disorder is a much more serious behavior pattern. These children intentionally do things that hurt others and violate social rules.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose these two conditions?

If you have even the slightest suspicion that your child has ADHD or Conduct Disorder , the best thing to do is to see your doctor immediately . If necessary, he or she will refer you to a child mental health specialist.

When making a diagnosis, the doctor considers several factors.

• For ADHD: Generally, a child under the age of 16 must have 6 or more of the symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity that we discussed above for at least 6 months at a time. Also, these symptoms must be at a level that is inappropriate for the child's age and interferes with daily activities. After the age of 17, there must be 5 symptoms. But these symptoms must have started before the age of 12. Also, these symptoms must be seen not only in one place, but in at least two places , such as at home and at school.
• For Conduct Disorder: To be diagnosed with this, the child must have displayed at least 3 of the above-mentioned aggressive and harmful behaviors within the past year. Also, they must have displayed at least one of the symptoms within the past 6 months.

A child with ADHD is more likely to have another behavioral problem called Conduct Disorder or ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). So if your child is also having problems with aggressive behavior in addition to attention problems, be sure to tell your doctor about that as well.

What are the treatments for this?

The best news is, there are treatments for both of these conditions.

Treatment for ADHD

ADHD can be largely controlled with treatment.

• For children under 6 years of age: Doctors usually recommend training parents on how to manage their child's behavior before giving medication.
• For children over 6 years of age: Behavior therapy and medication are often given together. The most common type of medication used for ADHD is stimulants . In addition, extra support from school can also help the child a lot.

Treatment for Conduct Disorder

Treating this condition is a bit challenging.

• Treatment: This mainly involves long-term behavioral therapy and counseling . This teaches the child how to interact with others in a non-harming way. It also trains those around the child, including parents, in new ways of dealing with the child.
• Medication: There is no specific medication for Conduct Disorder. However, if a child has another mental health condition, such as ADHD or depression, treating that condition can sometimes help control the symptoms of Conduct Disorder.

What are the risk factors for these diseases?

It is difficult to say exactly why a child develops these conditions.

• ADHD: The risk may increase if someone in the family has this condition (genetic influence) and due to certain conditions the mother faces during pregnancy.
• Conduct Disorder: This condition is often seen in conjunction with other mental health problems. Children with a family history of conduct disorder, as well as those who were neglected or abused as children, are at higher risk of developing this condition.

Sometimes, if ADHD is not controlled, it can develop into Conduct Disorder. But that doesn't mean that every child with ADHD will develop Conduct Disorder. It's very rare.

If you have any concerns or worries about your child's behavior, seek medical advice as soon as possible . Young children with these conditions are more likely to develop other serious problems, such as depression and substance abuse. Therefore, early intervention and proper treatment can prevent many more problems from developing.

ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Child Behavior, Misbehavior, Attention Deficit Disorder, Mental Health, Child Mental Illness