How To Recognise Behavioural Disorders In Children!

Raising children is difficult. But raising difficult children can be flat-out life-altering! Here, DR TRISHA UPADHYAYA of Osler Health International shares how to recognise some of the key characteristics of common behavioural disorders in children and how you can act on any concerns you might have.

- Amy Greenburg

Behaviour and emotional dysregulation are normal for children as they go through different phases of physical, mental, emotional and social development. Of course, there are also mental and behavioural problems that can affect children. They may coincide together, with other emotional problems, mood disorders or family circumstances aggravating their condition, explains Dr Trisha.

At Osler Health International’s Star Vista clinic, she provides primary care to patients of all ages, including children right from birth. The following list comprises the most common behavioural disorders she sees in children.

#1 Conduct disorders

Often called antisocial behaviour, conduct disorders are a group of disorders with varying difficulties in controlling aggressive behaviour, self-control and impulses. They are the most common mental and behavioural problems in young people worldwide.

Typical behaviours of a child with conduct disorder include:

• refusal to obey parents or other authority figures

• lack of empathy towards others

• lying or stealing without any sign of remorse or guilt when caught

• being aggressive towards animals and other people

• involvement in more violent physical fights, often with the use of weapons

• showing behaviours such as bullying, physical or sexual abuse

• refusal to follow rules

• breaking the law

• tendencies to run away from home

#2 Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

This is a milder form of antisocial behaviour that’s mostly seen in younger children. Some characteristic behaviours may include:

• getting easily annoyed, irritated or angered