Sections
Definition, Clinical Description, and Diagnosis | Epidemiology | Comorbidity | Etiology, Mechanisms, and Risk Factors | Prevention | Course and Prognosis | Evaluation | Treatment
Excerpt
The central feature of CD (Table 16–2) is a repetitive pattern
of behavior that violates the rights of others or major societal
rules. There is no one required or pathognomonic behavior for diagnosis
but rather a range of acts that by their number, severity, and persistence
for at least 12 months define the condition. Although some of the
behaviors may be chargeable offenses and result in arrest, the diagnosis
of CD should not be confused with the legal term of delinquency. In contrast
to the diagnosis of adult antisocial personality disorder, all of
the diagnostic criteria for CD are observable, objective behaviors
rather than inferred, internal constructs, such as lack of remorse
or deceitfulness. Repeated studies have found the CD behaviors to
be reliable and valid criteria in identifying those youth at greatest
risk for continued antisocial behavior (Loeber et al. 2000).
Studies have considered the association of interpersonal callousness
and CD and compared their ability to predict later psychopathy,
but the relationships are complicated and require further study
(Burke et al. 2007).