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Evidence-based management of conduct disorders
Matthew Woolgar1, Stephen Scott
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Current Opinion in Psychiatry
|April 28, 2006
Summary
Effective interventions for antisocial behavior and conduct disorders exist, including parent training and multisystemic therapies. Addressing implementation fidelity and therapist skill is crucial for successful outcomes in at-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychopathology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Antisocial behavior in children leads to significant societal costs and personal hardship.
- Aggressive and criminal behavior, particularly in disadvantaged populations, is a growing public and governmental concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of knowledge regarding the causes of antisocial behavior and conduct disorders.
- To highlight the availability and effectiveness of interventions for reducing these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Review of established interventions including parent training, child problem-solving, and teacher-training programs.
- Examination of community-based multisystemic interventions for severe delinquency.
- Analysis of factors influencing intervention effectiveness, such as model fidelity and therapist skill.
Main Results:
- Parent training, child problem-solving, and teacher-training programs are effective supplements.
- Multisystemic interventions demonstrate reasonable effectiveness for severe delinquency when diligently applied, focusing on social skills and reinforcement.
- Despite proven interventions, awareness among policymakers and commissioners remains limited.
Conclusions:
- Effective interventions for antisocial behavior and conduct disorders are available.
- Successful real-world implementation requires attention to model fidelity and therapist skill development.
- Addressing these factors leads to substantial gains in reducing antisocial behavior.
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