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Causes

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Treatment

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Behavioral disorders in children are patterns of behavior that can affect a child’s ability to function at home, in school, or in social settings. Such symptoms are present for six months or longer.

Behavioral disorders in children can create a number of challenges and difficulties in a child’s life. Such conditions can lead to social problems, academic difficulties, and disciplinary issues in different settings.

If you are concerned about a child’s behavior, it can be helpful to learn more about some of the conditions that can contribute to behavioral issues in childhood. Getting intervention can help the child develop skills that will help them deal with some of these challenges so that you can better support them.

It is important to remember that even if a child struggles with challenging behaviors, it does not necessarily mean that they have a diagnosable mental health condition. And being diagnosed with a behavioral disorder does not mean that a child should be labeled in a negative way.

Sometimes behaviors might be viewed as problems because they do not conform to what a child is expected to do in a particular setting.

In such cases, recognizing a child’s needs and characteristics can help parents, teachers, and caregivers adapt experiences and provide interventions and accommodations that will help ease stress and allow kids to engage with their environment in a way that works for their individual needs.

Characteristics of Behavioral Disorders in Children

These disorders sometimes involve:

Not all behavior problems indicate the presence of a condition, and most kids experience some type of disruptive behavior from time to time. But if a child’s behavior lasts six months or longer and impacts their home, social, or academic life, you should talk to the child’s doctor.

Diagnosis of Behavioral Disorders in Children

Diagnosis may also involve screenings, psychological assessments, and interviews with other individuals, such as the child’s teachers and caregivers. While you might be able to recognize signs of a behavioral disorder, only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis.

Behavioral disorders are rarely diagnosed in children before the age of five. Occasional temper tantrums and other disruptive behaviors are common in kids during early childhood.

Research indicates that more than 80% of all preschoolers have tantrums once in a while.Such outbursts are often short-term, and kids outgrow them as they acquire new coping skills.

Causes of Behavioral Disorders in Children

Behavioral disorders in children do not have a single identifiable cause. Instead, numerous factors play a role in the onset of different behavioral issues. Some factors that can contribute to the onset of a behavioral disorder include:

Types of Behavioral Disorders in Children

Some conditions that may contribute to behavior issues in children include the following.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)is a neurobehavioral condition that is usually first diagnosed in childhood. It involves characteristic behavior patterns that may involve hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Children with these characteristics may have more difficulty paying attention, staying on task, and controlling their behaviors.

Characteristics of ADHDcan include:

Conduct Disorder

Kids who have conduct disorder may:

Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Children with ODD tend to:

Other conditions can also contribute to disruptive behavior in children.Autistic childrenmay also behave in unexpected ways in different situations because of the differences in how they relate to the world. Anxiety,bipolar disorder,depression, learning disorders, andobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)may also contribute to disruptive behaviors.

Treatment for Behavioral Disorders in Children

Treatment for behavioral disorders in children depends on the nature, type, and severity of the problems a child is experiencing. In many cases, interventions will focus on:

RecapTreatment for behavioral disorders in children depends on the nature of the child’s condition and the severity of their symptoms. Family therapy, individual therapy, medication, parent training, and residential treatment are a few options that might be recommended.

Recap

Treatment for behavioral disorders in children depends on the nature of the child’s condition and the severity of their symptoms. Family therapy, individual therapy, medication, parent training, and residential treatment are a few options that might be recommended.

Coping With Behavioral Disorders in Children

Utilizing effective behavior management strategies in the home can help parents and children better cope with behavioral issues.

Some tactics that can help include:

Most kids misbehave on occasion, and having temper tantrums and other behavioral outbursts once in a while is usually not a cause for concern. However, if a child is experiencing long-lasting patterns of behavior problems that create distress, interfere with their ability to function in different areas, or pose a risk of harm to themselves or others, it is essential to seek help. Early intervention can often lead to better outcomes and fewer disruptions in a child’s life.

Signs Your Child May Be Struggling With Mental Health Issues

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Behavior or conduct problems in children.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Behavioral disorders in children.Hassenfield Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.Diagnosing behavioral problems in children.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582Lewis GJ, Plomin R.Heritable influences on behavioural problems from early childhood to mid-adolescence: evidence for genetic stability and innovation.Psychol Med. 2015;45(10):2171-2179. doi:10.1017/S0033291715000173Lansford JE, Skinner AT, Sorbring E, et al.Boys’ and girls’ relational and physical aggression in nine countries.Aggress Behav. 2012;38(4):298-308. doi:10.1002/ab.21433Hosokawa R, Katsura T.Role of parenting style in children’s behavioral problems through the transition from preschool to elementary school according to gender in Japan.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;16(1):21. doi:10.3390/ijerph16010021Riley M, Ahmed S, Locke A.Common questions about oppositional defiant disorder.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(7):586-91.Balia C, Carucci S, Coghill D, Zuddas A.The pharmacological treatment of aggression in children and adolescents with conduct disorder. Do callous-unemotional traits modulate the efficacy of medication?Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018;91:218-238. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.024

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Behavior or conduct problems in children.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Behavioral disorders in children.Hassenfield Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.Diagnosing behavioral problems in children.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582Lewis GJ, Plomin R.Heritable influences on behavioural problems from early childhood to mid-adolescence: evidence for genetic stability and innovation.Psychol Med. 2015;45(10):2171-2179. doi:10.1017/S0033291715000173Lansford JE, Skinner AT, Sorbring E, et al.Boys’ and girls’ relational and physical aggression in nine countries.Aggress Behav. 2012;38(4):298-308. doi:10.1002/ab.21433Hosokawa R, Katsura T.Role of parenting style in children’s behavioral problems through the transition from preschool to elementary school according to gender in Japan.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;16(1):21. doi:10.3390/ijerph16010021Riley M, Ahmed S, Locke A.Common questions about oppositional defiant disorder.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(7):586-91.Balia C, Carucci S, Coghill D, Zuddas A.The pharmacological treatment of aggression in children and adolescents with conduct disorder. Do callous-unemotional traits modulate the efficacy of medication?Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018;91:218-238. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.024

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Behavior or conduct problems in children.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Behavioral disorders in children.Hassenfield Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.Diagnosing behavioral problems in children.Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582Lewis GJ, Plomin R.Heritable influences on behavioural problems from early childhood to mid-adolescence: evidence for genetic stability and innovation.Psychol Med. 2015;45(10):2171-2179. doi:10.1017/S0033291715000173Lansford JE, Skinner AT, Sorbring E, et al.Boys’ and girls’ relational and physical aggression in nine countries.Aggress Behav. 2012;38(4):298-308. doi:10.1002/ab.21433Hosokawa R, Katsura T.Role of parenting style in children’s behavioral problems through the transition from preschool to elementary school according to gender in Japan.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;16(1):21. doi:10.3390/ijerph16010021Riley M, Ahmed S, Locke A.Common questions about oppositional defiant disorder.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(7):586-91.Balia C, Carucci S, Coghill D, Zuddas A.The pharmacological treatment of aggression in children and adolescents with conduct disorder. Do callous-unemotional traits modulate the efficacy of medication?Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018;91:218-238. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.024

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Behavior or conduct problems in children.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Behavioral disorders in children.

Hassenfield Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.Diagnosing behavioral problems in children.

Ogundele MO.Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians.World J Clin Pediatr. 2018;7(1):9-26. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9

Ghosh A, Ray A, Basu A.Oppositional defiant disorder: current insight.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:353-367. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582

Lewis GJ, Plomin R.Heritable influences on behavioural problems from early childhood to mid-adolescence: evidence for genetic stability and innovation.Psychol Med. 2015;45(10):2171-2179. doi:10.1017/S0033291715000173

Lansford JE, Skinner AT, Sorbring E, et al.Boys’ and girls’ relational and physical aggression in nine countries.Aggress Behav. 2012;38(4):298-308. doi:10.1002/ab.21433

Hosokawa R, Katsura T.Role of parenting style in children’s behavioral problems through the transition from preschool to elementary school according to gender in Japan.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;16(1):21. doi:10.3390/ijerph16010021

Riley M, Ahmed S, Locke A.Common questions about oppositional defiant disorder.Am Fam Physician. 2016;93(7):586-91.

Balia C, Carucci S, Coghill D, Zuddas A.The pharmacological treatment of aggression in children and adolescents with conduct disorder. Do callous-unemotional traits modulate the efficacy of medication?Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018;91:218-238. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.024

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