Differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder

In childhood and adolescence we can find two disorders that lead to notable social and academic maladjustment and these are conduct disorder and behavioral disorder. defiant oppositional behavior that, if not treated promptly and adequately, especially conduct disorder, could evolve during adulthood into behaviors antisocial.

Within the differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder we can find the following: different comorbidity with other disorders, different severity of behaviors, different prevalence, different diagnostic or specifier criteria different.

In this article We will talk about the differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, but first it is convenient that we see the diagnostic criteria of both disorders, since they allow to know in broad strokes these existing differences, in accordance with the criteria of the DSM-5.

• Related article: "Antisocial behavior: what it is, risk factors and associated disorders"

What is conduct disorder?

Conduct disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 was previously known by the name of "dissocial disorder" (DSM-IV-TR), and the main diagnostic criteria for these disorders are those that we are going to expose to continuation.

Oppositional Disorder Criterion A speaks of the existence of a persistent and repetitive pattern of behavior through which the basic rights of others are violated and/or the fundamental social norms of their age; furthermore, this should be manifest through 3 or even more of the criteria, among which are some of those that we are going to comment on below during the last 12 months or at least 1 criterion during the last 6 months.

1. Aggression to animals and/or people

Within this first category of criteria we can find 7 of them related to aggression towards animals and also people, and the main ones are these:

• Often threatens or intimidates other people.
• Start fights often.
• Has shown cruelty to other people or animals.
• He has robbed violently.

• You may be interested: "The 11 types of violence (and the different kinds of aggression)"

2. property destruction

In this second category we can find 2 other criteria related to property destruction, being the following:

• You have deliberately set fires.
• You have deliberately destroyed other people's property.

3. Theft and/or fraudulence

Within this third category related to theft or fraudulence we can find 3 criteria that involve the misappropriation of objects:

• Has broken into another person's vehicle or home.

• Frequently lies to obtain certain benefits.

• He has come to steal valuable objects without coming to grips with the victim.

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4. Serious rule violations

In this category there are 3 criteria:

• He usually plays hooky at school and/or at the institute.

• He has even run away from home at night at least twice.

• Quite often he spends nights away from home without the permission of his parents or guardians.

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What is oppositional defiant disorder?

Within the DSM-5 we can also find oppositional defiant disorder classified, characterized by the criteria that we are going to comment on below. Criterion A refers to a pattern of irritability, anger and/or arguments, defiant and/or vindictive activity that appears for 6 months or even longer, also manifesting itself through the fulfillment of 4 or even more of the symptoms, classified within 3 categories.

1. irritability/anger

Within this first category we can find 3 criteria:

• He loses his cool often.

• He is easily irritated.

• He is often angry and/or resentful.

• Related article: "Irritability: what it is, causes, and what to do to manage it"

2. Defiant attitude/arguments

In this category, 4 criteria are grouped, which are the following:

• He blames other people for his own mistakes quite often.
• Deliberately annoys other people quite often,
• Often actively defies authority figures (parents, teachers, etc.).
• Argue with authority figures often.

3. Vengeful

In this third category, we can only find the following criteria: has become vindictive and/or spiteful at least 2 times in the last 6 months.

Main differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder

After having verified the diagnostic criteria of both disorders, we can already get an idea of ​​the differences that could exist between them; however, it is convenient that we comment in greater detail what those most notable differences would be.

Next we are going to explain the main differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder, something that used to establish the differential diagnosis between both disorders (although this task can only be carried out by mental health professionals).

1. Comorbidity of each of these disorders

The first of the differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder is related to the different comorbidities that exist with each of these disorders.

Oppositional defiant disorder has a higher comorbidity with ADHD (the existence of oppositional defiant disorder being much greater in people with ADHD than in the general population), disorders of anxiety, major depressive disorder and conduct disorder, since these disorders can occur in a comorbid.

On the other hand, although one of his greatest comorbidities develops with ADHD, anxiety disorders and disorder major depressive disorder, also has comorbidity with learning disorders, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder substances.

• You may be interested: "The 6 stages of childhood (physical and mental development)"

2. Severity of behaviors

Another of the main differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder that should be highlighted is the seriousness of the behaviors that occur in one and in the other, being maybe The most remarkable difference between both alterations.

In conduct disorder, behaviors are more serious since they can harm other people and/or animals aggressively, and Other criminal acts such as fraudulence or reinstatement, destruction of property and violation of regulations may even be carried out serious.

Instead, in oppositional defiant disorder the behaviors are not as aggressive or disruptive, as they are mainly based on anger or irritability, arguments or defiance and/or being vindictive or spiteful; They are also serious enough to be taken into account, but they do not normally become as harmful as those that occur in a behavioral disorder.

3. Course and prevalence

There are also some differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder in terms of the course of each disorder and its prevalence. Starting by conduct disorder, whose prevalence is around an average of 4% in minors, is a more common disorder in males; In addition, this prevalence increases with age, being higher during adolescence, although it is a disorder that can come to comment during the preschool stage. On the other hand, it is rare for conduct disorder to begin after 16 years of age.

On the other hand, oppositional defiant disorder has a prevalence of approximately 3.3% in minors, being a disorder that usually occur in a greater proportion in males, although in adolescence there are no significant differences with respect to the percentage of cases that occurs in adolescents. women. As for the symptoms of this disorder, it is worth mentioning that they usually appear gradually during the preschool stage and rarely begin to manifest after adolescence.

Another difference between the two disorders is that the first symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder may go unnoticed for several years, while those with conduct disorder tend to start attracting attention earlier.

4. specifiers

Among the main differences between conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder also It is worth highlighting the different specifiers that we can count on within the DSM-5 manual for both disorders.

In the case of oppositional defiant disorder, we only found a specifier related to the current severity of the disorder, depending on whether the symptoms appear only within one setting (eg. g., only at home) or if, on the contrary, they take place in two or even three or more settings.

In contrast, in conduct disorder several specifiers can be applied., in addition to the one related to the current severity of the disorder. One of these specifiers refers to the onset of the disorder (childhood, adolescent, or unspecified), while the most noteworthy of the specifiers refers to 4 factors that could be associated with this disorder, these being the following:

• With poor or superficial affect.
• He is unconcerned about his performance.
• Shows lack of empathy or insensitive.
• Shows a lack of remorse or guilt.
• Shows limited prosocial emotions.

As we can see, the specifiers of both disorders can help us to get an idea of ​​the greater severity that the symptoms of the conduct disorder normally have.