Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Disruptive behavior disorders, which include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD), are characterized by difficulty regulating and controlling one’s own behaviors. Disruptive behavior disorders are among the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric conditions in children, and they are among the most common comorbid conditions in individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Namely, about one in four children with ID is believed to meet criteria for either ODD or CD; this rate is estimated to be about the same for children with ASD. This entry first discusses the features and diagnostic criteria of ODD and CD and changes from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ...