Antisocial personality disorder and conduct disorder vs Oppositional defiant disorder
How to tell Antisocial personality disorder and conduct disorder and Oppositional defiant disorder apart when a board question makes them look alike.
Rights violations point to conduct disorder or adult antisocial personality; defiant irritability without major rights violations points to ODD.
Side by side
Conduct disorder is childhood/adolescent violation of rights or major rules; antisocial personality disorder is adult pervasive disregard for rights with evidence of conduct disorder before age 15.
Oppositional defiant disorder has angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness without the severe rights violations of conduct disorder.
Conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder involve aggression, deceit, theft, destruction, or serious rule violations.
ODD is a disruptive behavior pattern of defiance and irritability, but it does not include cruelty, theft, fire-setting, or serious rights violations.
Cruelty to people/animals, forced sex, weapon use, arson, burglary, theft, running away, truancy, and adult remorseless exploitation support conduct/antisocial spectrum.
Frequent temper loss, arguing with authority, active defiance, blaming others, touchiness, anger, and spitefulness support oppositional defiant disorder.
The trap
A difficult child is not automatically conduct disorder; severity of aggression, deceit, theft, and rule violation decides.
The repair move
For disruptive behavior, separate defiance from rights-violating aggression or deceit.
Try a free question
CoreA 13-year-old repeatedly steals, starts fights with weapons, is cruel to animals, lies for gain, and skips school despite consequences. Which diagnosis is most likely?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Conduct disorder. Aggression, deceit, theft, cruelty, and serious rule violations in a child support conduct disorder.
Why the other choices are tempting
- B. ODD lacks severe rights violations such as cruelty, theft, and weapon use.
- C. Antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed in adults and requires conduct disorder history.
- D. Intermittent explosive disorder is impulsive aggression out of proportion, not a broad rights-violation pattern.
- E. ADHD centers on inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it.
What childhood pattern supports conduct disorder?
Aggression, theft, destruction, deceit, or serious rule violation supports conduct disorder.
What is required before diagnosing antisocial personality disorder?
The patient must be at least 18 and have evidence of conduct disorder before age 15.
Quick answers
What is the fastest way to tell Antisocial personality disorder and conduct disorder from Oppositional defiant disorder?
Rights violations point to conduct disorder or adult antisocial personality; defiant irritability without major rights violations points to ODD.
What is the key clue for Antisocial personality disorder and conduct disorder?
Conduct disorder is childhood/adolescent violation of rights or major rules; antisocial personality disorder is adult pervasive disregard for rights with evidence of conduct disorder before age 15.
What is the key clue for Oppositional defiant disorder?
Oppositional defiant disorder has angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness without the severe rights violations of conduct disorder.
What is the common trap with Antisocial personality disorder and conduct disorder vs Oppositional defiant disorder?
A difficult child is not automatically conduct disorder; severity of aggression, deceit, theft, and rule violation decides.