Systematic and empirical results on conduct disorders in childhood and adolescence

The article gives an overview on conduct disorders in childhood and adolescence. After a summary of empirical results concerning symptoms, classification and comorbid disorders, risk factors and maintaining factors are discussed. An overview on therapeutic approaches, the indications and efficacy is given. The treatment of aggressive and oppositional behavioral disturbances in children and adolescents presents a particular challenge for the clinical practice, as these disorders have high prevalence rates, often persist from childhood to adolescence and are usually difficult to treat. Besides biologically co-determined disturbances of impulse control (inhibition) and empathy (callous-unemotional traits), psychosocial factors, especially family interactions and disturbance of social cognitive information processing, are important factors in the development of the disorder. For the treatment of aggressive and oppositional behavioral disorders, an evidence-based approach should be chosen. Patient-centered, family-centered and preschool or school-centered interventions, and additionally peer-centered interventions, if necessary, are first line interventions which can be combined with pharmacotherapy in rare cases, if indicated. Evaluated German language treatment manuals are presented