Disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) are a group of behavioral disorders that are characterized by ongoing patterns of defiant and hostile behaviors that children and adolescents direct at authority figures. The two most common forms of DBD are oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder. While all children go through stages where they can be defiant in an attempt to test limits, kids with DBD exhibit these behaviors to such an extreme that it disrupts their ability to function appropriately on a daily basis. If you have a child who presents with symptoms of DBD, you might fee you are trapped in a vicious spiral of negative behaviors without the hope of there ever being any reprieve. But there is hope for change.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of disruptive behavior disorders will vary based on the age of the child and the type of behavioral disorder that he or she has. Children’s temperament, social skills, and coping mechanisms will also affect the severity of the symptoms. The following are some common examples of symptoms that people with DBD may exhibit:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Social isolation
• Bullying
• Revenge-seeking behaviors
• Lying
• Stealing
• Willful destruction of property
• Blaming others
• Actively defying or refusing to comply with rules
• Being cruel to animals
• Playing with fire