Behavioural disorders can already appear in the pre-school period or at the beginning of primary school. They are classified as so-called disruptive behaviour disorders. Depending on the type of disorder, the characteristic symptoms are: disrespecting the rights of others, breaking social norms, disobedience, inability to focus and impulsivity. Therapy for behavioural disorders often results in a significant improvement in functioning.
What are behavioural disorders?
Behavioural disorders are characterised by the occurrence of repetitive, enduring, maladaptive behaviour pattern manifested, for example, in disrespect for the rights of another person, inadequate reaction to a situation, violation of age-appropriate social norms, excessive impulsivity or hyperactivity.
People with behavioural and emotional disorders often come into conflict with the law and have difficulties in everyday life. They are usually perceived as angry, rebellious, antisocial and aggressive. As a consequence, people with behavioural disorders have great difficulty forming close relationships and are often stigmatised by society.
Behavioural disorders in children and adolescents
The first symptoms of behavioural disorders are already observed in preschoolers. Research indicates that they occur more often in boys than in girls. Due to differences in symptoms, disruptive behaviour disorders are divided into: Conduct Disorder (CD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Conduct Disorder (CD)
Conduct disorders are characterised by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviour that results in the violation of social norms and disrespect for the boundaries of others. Children with this type of behavioural disorder often come into conflict with the law.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
In this type of disorder, the child's behaviour is mainly characterised by disobedience, but there is no violation of other people's rights. Children with this disorder often display rebellious and hostile behaviour.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
This syndrome is characterised by the child's impulsivity, hyperactivity and difficulty concentrating. It is a disorder that is most commonly diagnosed in children before puberty.
Behavioural disorders in adults
Behavioural and emotional disorders in adults are usually associated with a lack of control over urges and impulses. Lack of self-control significantly impairs daily functioning. People with this disorder are impulsive and have difficulty controlling their own behaviour. Behavioural disorders in adults include:
- pyromania (fascination with fire, arson, feeling pleasure from witnessing fire),
- kleptomania (uncontrollable urge to steal),
- trichotillomania (impulsive hair-pulling),
- explosive disorders (frequent, pathological fits of anger).
What are the most common causes of behavioural disorders?
The causes of behavioural disorders are a compilation of social, genetic and neurophysiological factors.
Social factors
Numerous studies have shown that individuals diagnosed with behavioural disorders come from disorganised social environments. These individuals were often raised in families where there was a lack of permission to show emotions and strict discipline was used. There were frequent quarrels in the family and aggression was the way to react in situations of tension. As a consequence, the disruptive behaviour pattern was transferred to the child, who started to react in the only way he or she knew how. Sometimes the changes in behaviour are accompanied by anxiety disorders.
Genetic factors
In addition to social factors, genetic predisposition plays a role in the formation of behavioural disorders. Research has shown that there is a correlation between behavioural disorders in parents and their children. However, it is important to note that an inherited predisposition to the occurrence of such disorders does not determine that the disorder will occur in the child.
Neurophysiological factors
Dysfunctions in the frontal lobes and the amygdala, which are responsible e.g. for controlling emotions, may also contribute to behavioural disorders. Research has shown that people with disorders also have an imbalance between neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline.
How are behavioural disorders diagnosed?
A diagnosis of behavioural disorders is made based on the following criteria:
- the occurrence of a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviour manifested in disrespecting the rights of others and violation of age-appropriate rules and social norms,
- provoking fights, uncontrolled fits of anger, aggression towards people and animals,
- destruction of other people's property, arson and theft,
- disobedience to parents,
- frequent truancy and lying to parents,
- frequent nights out of home without parental permission, running away from home,
- behavioural disorders significantly impair social, educational and professional functioning.
How are behavioural disorders treated?
The treatment of behavioural disorders is most often based on psychotherapeutic help. In the therapy, techniques are used to learn to identify situations that can trigger aggression in a child, to take the other person's perspective and to deal with conflict situations. Psychotherapy usually involves the whole family, because it is often the source of maladaptive behaviour patterns. Individual psychotherapy is also recommended in the treatment of behavioural disorders. Combined with family therapy and parenting skills training it gives very good results in improving the child's behaviour.
For people with ADHD it is sometimes necessary to implement pharmacological treatment. A reduction in ADHD symptoms occurs after administering stimulant medication, while taking sedative medication worsens the condition for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Seligman M.,Walker E., Rosenhan D. (2003). Psychopatologia. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Zysk i S – ka.
