Conduct Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence

Description

Conduct disorders are very common and the most frequent reason for clinical referrals to child and adolescent mental health facilities. Aggression and oppositional behaviour in youth often becomes persistent, and substantially increases the likelihood of adult problems of criminality, unstable relationships, psychiatric disorder, and harsh parenting. This comprehensive book by leading clinicians and researchers reviews established and emerging aspects of conduct disorder. It highlights the complexity and probable heterogeneity of the condition, including the biological, neuropsychological, and cognitive factors, and the role of attachment and family influences. Preventive and treatment approaches and outcomes are reviewed, with developmental and gender-based variations emphasized throughout. Integrating findings from a wide range of research perspectives, this is a uniquely authoritative survey of a common clinical and social problem, and will be essential reading for mental health practitioners and others with clinical, sociological or medicolegal interests in child health and behaviour.

'This is an extremely interesting and informative book that does justice to the complexity of perspectives on child and adolescent conduct problems ... It deserves to become a standard work, available widely to all clinicians and researchers interested in this field.' Journal of Neurological and Neurosurgical Psychiatry 'This publication provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of conduct disorder and it will be of interest to a wide range of mental health professionals. The editors are to be congratulated not only because they have assembled some of the best known researchers and academics in this field but also because they have encouraged them to produce some truly first-class work ... This is one of the best current books on the topic and it deserves to be widely read.' British Journal of Psychiatry 'This book is interesting to read and the topics were comprehensively presented ... I am confident that this book will be utilized as a reference and guideline by many physicians and healthcare professionals.' Saudi Medical Journal '... two chapters I found particularly helpful: one on the relationship between attachment and conduct disorder and one on the relationship between friends, friendships and conduct disorder ... For any professional working with children with conduct disorders it offers both a compelling read and a valuable resource.' The British Journal of Forensic Practice